Do not rely on the press release for the answer to your question.
the press release says:
The University of Akron men's soccer team unveiled a challenging 2018 slate, one that will see the Zips face six opponents from the 2017 NCAA Tournament field sixth-year head coach Jared Embick announced today.
we know that Western Michigan made the tournament...so the press release would indicate that only 5 of the 12 conference teams made last year's NCAA tourney
the correct answer is that there are 8 teams on the zips schedule that made the 2017 NCAA tourney (7 non - conf and WMU)
Butler -yes
NC State - yes
Pitt NO
Seattle - yes
Washington - yes
Connecticut NO
Grand Canyon NO
VCU - yes
Syracuse NO
Mich. State- yes
Creighton NO
Notre Dame - yes
I would expect both Creighton and Syracuse to be back in the NCAA this year...and Pitt has a highly rated recruiting class
also.....if you look at the press release...check out the paragraph on opening up MAC play against the Falcons...really poor press release by the soccer SID