Men’s NAIA Soccer National Championship Scores: Day 1
DELRAY BEACH, Fla. Sporting Alert – No. 12 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) shocked No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan on penalties at the 2015 Men’s NAIA Soccer National Championship at the Seacrest Soccer Complex on Monday night.
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After the teams finished scoreless in the two overtime battle, Rocky Mountain advanced with a 5-4 PK shootout result, after an OKWU Eagles player blasted his attempt on the cross bar.
Both sides were tied at 4-4 heading into the final round of spot-kicks, but Oklahoma Wesleyan failed to score on their try and Rocky Mountain’s Donovan Luce took advantage — firing home past Luka Stojanovic, who got a hand to the ball, but was unable to keep it out.
This now means Oklahoma Wesleyan (20-1-1), which came into the tournament on a 14-game win streak, is left disappointed at being knocked out in the first game.
Both sides were also reduced to 10 players, with leading scorer Jack McGowan getting his marching orders via a second yellow with three seconds to play in the second overtime after he kicked the ball away after the referee had blown for a foul.
Matthew Thomas of Rocky Mountain was sent off in the second overtime as well with three minutes left.
The Battlin’ Bears advanced to play Missouri Valley on Wednesday in its first-ever quarterfinal.
Meanwhile, Top-seed Rio Grande (Ohio) cruised into the quarterfinal with a 2-0 win over No. 16 Union (Ky.) (17-2-4).
A pair of first-half goals from Luiz Filho and Kimathi Kaumbutho and solid goalkeeping by Benjamin Martinez guided the RedStorm, who are looking to become the first No. 1 seed to go all the way and win the Men’s NAIA Soccer National Championship since 2009.
Rio Grande (20-1) moves on to face Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday.
Elsewhere on the first day on Monday night, Indiana Wesleyan (16-5-1) got the better of Southeastern (Fla.) (16-5), 1-0 in their clash, while No. 4 Missouri Valley (19-2-1) defeated Biola (Calif.) (15-5-1), 3-2 in overtime.
Men’s NAIA Soccer National Championship
Second Round Scores
No. 1 Rio Grande (Ohio) (20-1) def. No. 16 Union (Ky.) (17-2-4), 2-0 | Box Score
Indiana Wesleyan (16-5-1) def. Southeastern (Fla.) (16-5), 1-0 | Box Score
No. 4 Missouri Valley (19-2-1) def. Biola (Calif.) (15-5-1), 3-2 (OT) | Box Score
No. 12 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) (16-2-4) tied No. 5 Oklahoma Wesleyan (20-1-1), 0-0 (2 OT)
Rocky advances on PKs, 5-4 | Box Score
