The Division I Championships/Sports Management Cabinet approved an adjustment proposed by the Division I Men’s Soccer Committee to the schedule for the Division I Men’s Soccer championship.

Second-round games currently are conducted the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The Division I Men’s Soccer Committee believed moving the second-round games to Sunday would improve the atmosphere of the second round, increase attendance and potentially increase revenue.

The first rounds will now be conducted on the Thursday after selections (selections are on Monday). Second rounds will be held on the Sunday three weeks before the finals, and the third rounds will be on the Sunday two weeks before the finals.

In addition, the quarterfinals will be on the Friday, Saturday or Sunday one week preceding the finals.

 “The NCAA Men’s Soccer Committee is dedicated to improving all aspects of the Division I Men’s Soccer championship every year,” said John Diffley, chair of the Division I Men’s Soccer Committee and senior associate athletics director of administration at Saint John’s (New York). “After hearing the soccer coaches’ proposal for this change, the committee agreed that the date change would improve attendance for NCAA games held during Thanksgiving week and ultimately enhance the championships.”

The 2009 NCAA Men’s College Cup will be played in Cary, North Carolina, for the third time in five years. All games will be played at WakeMed Soccer Park with the semifinals set for Friday, December 11, and the championship game for Sunday, December 13. The first semifinal will be played at 5 p.m. and will air live on ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN360.com. The second semifinal will be played at 7:30 p.m., live on ESPNU, with a rebroadcast of the match on ESPN2, December 12 at 11 a.m. All game times are Eastern.

Here is a breakdown of the new 2009 schedule:

First round: Thursday, November 19

Second round:  Sunday, November 22

Third round:  Sunday, November 29

Quarterfinals: Friday, December 4; Saturday, December 5; or Sunday, December 6

Semifinals: Friday, December 11

Final:  Sunday, December 13