Loyola College will launch play in the 48-team NCAA Division I men's soccer tournament Saturday in Greenville, S.C., against Furman University, the Southern Conference titlist.

The Greyhounds (13-4-3) qualified for the second straight season by winning the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament championship last weekend at Rider University, beating Marist, 2-1, in the final.

Sixteen teams drew first-round byes, including Atlantic Coast Conference tourney champion Maryland (17-4), which will await the survivor of the George Washington-American University match and play first on Nov. 27.

The Loyola-Furman winner advances to play Colonial Athletic Association champion Virginia Commonwealth the same day.

Every soccer-playing ACC school except N.C. State made the field, including defending national champion North Carolina.

"We're happy and excited just to be in for the second straight time," said Loyola coach Mark Mettrick. "There was a lot of pressure on this team because of the high expectations following what we did last year."

The Greyhounds reached the round of 16 in 2002 by upsetting the Terrapins, 1-0, in overtime at College Park before losing at Saint Louis University, 3-0.

Furman (17-2-1) is on a nine-game winning streak, all shutouts. The team has an NCAA-record 43 straight victories over conference foes.

Because of facility problems, Loyola is unable to be host to a game.

Loyola has not lost since Oct. 10, winning nine with one tie.