Nov. 19, 2007

Olathe, Kan. - The Semifinal round of the 2007 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship is set with both games to be played on Monday, Nov. 19. The Championship, hosted by MidAmerica Nazarene University (Kan.) and the Olathe Chamber of Commerce, is played at the College Boulevard Activity Center (CBAC). The Championship final is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 7 p.m. (CST).

SEMIFINAL PREVIEW:
• Game #17: No. 5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) vs. No. 1 Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 5:00 p.m. CST
In the day's (Nov. 19) first semifinal contest, No. 1 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) takes on No. 5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) at 5 p.m. (CST). Azusa holds a 18-1-1 season mark and the distinction of the No. 1 team in the NAIA Coaches' Top 25 Poll for the final two weeks of the regular season. Simon Fraser is on a roll having won 13 straight on the year including eight straight shut-outs. This is the first ever meeting between the two schools in Championship play.

Azusa, who holds a 8-3-3 Championship record, is attempting to become the first No. 1 seed to win the national title since Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) did so in 2001. The Cougars have appeared in the last two title games as the No. 5 seed (in 2005) and the No. 8 seed (in 2006). Simon Fraser is the leader among active NAIA schools with 21 Championship appearances and stands 37-15-4 all-time. The Clan is shooting for its eighth Championship final appearance with three Championship hardwares to its credit.

• Game #18: No. 6 Concordia (Calif.) vs. No. 10 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.), 7:30 p.m. CST
The second semifinal match of the day pits No. 6 Concordia (Calif.) versus No. 10 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) at 7:30 p.m. Concordia comes in with a 18-3-0 record having defeated defending national champion Graceland (Iowa) 4-2. The Eagles are in unchartered territory with this Semifinal appearance as they were 0-2 in Championship play (2002 & 2006) heading into 2007. AUM is in its seventh straight Championship holding a record of 15-8-2 all-time.

This will be the first meeting between the two programs in Championship play. AUM is shooting for its fourth Championship title appearance with its last coming in 2004. Since the Championship format increased to 20 teams, there has never been a double-digit seed advancing to the title bout.

SEMIFINAL NOTES:
• Simon Fraser (B.C.), who is the leader among active NAIA schools with 21 Championship appearances, has won 13 straight. Included in that streak is eight shutouts in-a-row.
• The Tournament goals and points leader is Concordia's (Calif.) Jon Fahey who has four goals and eight points.
• Simon Fraser goalkeeper Thomas Lindley heads into the Semifinals with 13 straight wins.
• Azusa Pacific (Calif.) has won five of its last six games in Championship play.
• Appearing it its first Semifinal round game is Concordia (Calif.) - this is the Eagles' third Championship Tournament appearance and was 0-2 before 2007.
• Auburn-Montgomery is heading to its fourth Semifinal match - the Senators appeared in 2004, 2002, 2001 and are searching for their first Championship.
• The 2007 Championship has not faced any overtimes, complete through the Quarterfinal round. That is the first such occurrence since 1998.
• Without an overtime match in the four-game Quarterfinal round, that marks the second time ever in Championship play - the other time was 2003 when there were no overtimes in the Quarterfinal games.
• No. 1 Azusa Pacific is heading to its third straight Semifinal round.
• Two teams from Region I and the Golden State Athletic Conference (Concordia, Azusa Pacific) are participants in the Semifinal round.

QUARTERFINAL RECAP:
Game #13 - No. 5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) 2, No. 4 Ohio Dominican 0
In a physical match, No. 5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) defeated No. 4 Ohio Dominican, 2-0. Simon Fraser took the lead in the 14th minute when midfielder Justin Carvery connected with forward Lucas Barrett to put the Clan up 1-0. Carvery crossed the ball from the right flank into the middle of the box where Barrett headed the ball past Ohio Dominican goalkeeper Eric Pfiefer. Late in the first half, Ohio Dominican looked to tie the game when forward David Bauer shot from the top of the box but the ball skimmed the top of the cross bar.

Referee Mike Oliver issued a red card in the 34th minute sending Ohio Dominican midfielder Jason Hale off the field. At the half, Simon Fraser led 1-0 over Ohio Dominican.

In the second half, the Clan found the net in the in the 68th minute to make the score 2-0. Carvey struck the ball from the top of the box, the rocket went just over the hands of Ohio Dominican keeper Pfiefer. The goal was Carvey's first goal of the tournament and ninth of the season.

Ohio Dominican registered its first shot on goal in the 84th minute off a free kick. Panther forward Zach Roberts lined up for the free kick but his shot was blocked by Simon Fraser goalkeeper Thomas Lindley. This is Lindley's eleventh shutout this season. Today's win over Ohio Dominican marks Simon Fraser's 13th consecutive win.

Game #14: No. 6 Concordia (Calif.) 2, No. 19 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 0
No. 6 Concordia (Calif.) defeated No. 19 Embry-Riddle, 2-0. Embry-Riddle was the lowest seed to play in the Quarterfinal round (since the pool was a 20-team field) since 2003. This is Concordia's second straight appearance (third overall) in the NAIA men's soccer national championship tournament.

Concordia opened play off a set piece in the second minute and made the most of a free kick opportunity. Forward Jeff Clark took a shot from the top of the box. The ball rolled low past a diving Embry-Riddle goalkeeper and trickled in to put Concordia on the board, 1-0.

Embry-Riddle looked to even the score in the 15th minute. Forward Michael Scott's shot hit the cross bar and seconds later forward Joe Yoffe headed the ball over the top of the net. Yoffe created yet another scoring chance in the 25th minute. Yoffe's down-the-middle-shot on goal was easily collected by Concordia goalkeeper Mike Borst.

In the 65th minute, Concordia midfielder Jon Fahey found the back of the net from 22 yards out to put the Eagles up 2-0. Fahey scored six goals coming into the tournament, had a hat trick in Concordia's win over Graceland (Iowa) (4-2) in the second round and enters Monday's semifinal round with four tournament goals.

Embry-Riddle looked to get on the scoreboard in the 72nd minute with midfielder AJ Barrett. Barrett's shot sailed just over the crossbar. In the 87th minute, Embry-Riddle was awarded a penalty kick which was taken by forward Jeff Yoffe. Yoffe sent a low shot left and Concordia keeper Borst was there to block. The win over Embry-Riddle is Borst's 12th shutout this season.

Game #15: No. 10 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) 2, No. 2 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 1
No. 10 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) upset No. 2 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 2-1. In the fifth minute, Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) midfielder Tiyiselani Shipalane sent a dangerous cross into the Auburn box but was cleared away by the Senators defense. Minutes later the Blue Raiders had another opportunity off a header made by midfielder Marshall Forbes but the ball rolled wide. The Blue Raiders continued to push towards goal as midfielder Carnell Learmond had a shot in the 26th minute but the shot rolled wide right.

Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) scored the first goal of the match in the 42nd minute off of a free kick. Defender Agust Agustsson's shot ricocheted off the crossbar, defender Kari Arsaelsson then headed the ball which skipped past a sprawling Lindsey Wilson goalkeeper and defender to put the Senators on the scoreboard, 1-0.

The Blue Raiders evened the score in the 53rd minute. Lindsey Wilson midfielder Carnell Learmond found himself at the top of the box. He connected and his shot found the back of the net passing Auburn Montgomery goalkeeper Nenad Cudic, 1-1.

In the 57th minute, a red card was issued to Lindsey Wilson defender Bryam Muteshi forcing the Blue Raiders to play a man down for the remainder of the match.

Minutes later, Lindsey Wilson midfielder Scott Blandford took down Auburn Montgomery forward Magnus Olafsson inside the box in the 63rd minute awarding a penalty kick for Auburn Montgomery. Defender Kari Arsaelsson lined up for the PK, the ball hit the top of the crossbar and landed at the feet of Senators forward Magnus Olafsson. Olafsson nailed the ball in the back of the net putting Auburn Montgomery up 2-1.

In the 82nd minute, Auburn Montgomery looked to add to its lead. Forward Magnus Olafsson had a stellar shot but Lindsey Wilson goalkeeper Glen Fox was there to make a beautiful save. Both sides continued to push forward towards goal but it was Auburn Montgomery's Olafsson game winning goal in the 63rd minute that put the Senators in the final four.

Game #16: No. 1 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 3, No. 8 Fresno Pacific (Calif.) 1
No. 1 Azusa Pacific earns its third straight trip to the Semifinal round of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship after a 3-1 come-from-behind win against No. 8 Fresno Pacific (Calif.). APU dug an early 1-0 hole in this quarterfinal contest, before notching three second-half goals.

These two programs hail from the same conference (Golden State) and region (II). Earlier this season (Sept. 25), APU defeated Fresno Pacific 1-0 but Fresno Pacific laid claim to the Region II title.

Starting on a set piece, Fresno Pacific's Amaury Nunes fired a laser that hit the left post setting up the game's initial goal in the 31st minute. Pablo Campos pushed home his third goal of the Championship and 17th of the year, off a feed from Andres Blanco, to put Fresno Pacific up 1-0.

APU tied the count up at 1-1 courtesy of a botched clear-out by Fresno Pacific. The FPU defense could not send out an initial shot as the ball deflected off Andres' Blanco leg and into the net. Less than four minutes later, Steven Lenhart put the Cougars up 2-1 with an assist credited to Beau Hayden. That was his team-leading 15th goal of the season.

Azusa Pacific's Mike Wilson put the clamps on any Fresno Pacific comeback with a score from the 10-yard middle mark in the 79th minute. He took a pinpoint pass from Jared Karkas on the left wing.APU goaltender James Crawford made one save in the win as the APU defense held Fresno Pacific to two shots on goal.

2007 CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE & RESULTS
First Round - Wednesday, Nov. 14
Game #1 - #13 Maine-Fort Kent 2, #20-Northwestern (Iowa) 1 FINAL
Game #2 - #19-Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 2 vs. #14-Madonna (Mich.) 1 FINAL
Game #3 - #18-Mid-Continent (Ky.) 2 vs. #15-Judson (Ill.) 1 FINAL
Game #4 - #17-MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 2 vs. #16-Covenant (Ga.) 0 FINAL

Second Round - Thursday, Nov. 15
Game #5 - #4-Ohio Dominican 7, #13 Maine-Fort Kent 0 FINAL
Game #6 - #19 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 2, #3-Mobile (Ala.) 0 FINAL
Game #7 - #2-Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 5, #18 Mid-Continent (Ky.) 1 FINAL
Game #8 - #1-Azusa Pacific (Calif) 3, No. 17 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 1 FINAL

Second Round - Friday, Nov. 16
Game #9 - #5-Simon Fraser (B.C.) 1, #12 Park (Mo.) 0 FINAL
Game #10 - #6-Concordia (Calif) 4, #11 Graceland (Iowa) 2 FINAL
Game #11 - #10-Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) 3, #7-Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 2 FINAL
Game #12 - #8-Fresno Pacific (Calif) 5, #9-Rio Grande (Ohio) 2 FINAL

Quarterfinal Round - Saturday, Nov. 17
Game #13: #5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) 2, #4 Ohio Dominican 0 FINAL
Game #14: #6 Concordia (Calif.) 2, #19 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) 0 FINAL
Game #15: #10 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.) 2, #2 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) 1 FINAL
Game #16: #1 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 3, #8 Fresno Pacific (Calif.) 1 FINAL

Semifinal Round - Monday, Nov. 19
Game #17: #5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) vs. #1 Azusa Pacific (Calif.), 5:00 p.m. CST
Game #18: #6 Concordia (Calif.) vs. #10 Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.), 7:30 p.m. CST

Championship Final - Tuesday, Nov. 20
Game #19: Semifinal Winners, 7:00 p.m. CST