Nov. 26, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. – (Press Book - PDF) The NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championships is set to start on Monday, Dec. 1 at the final site in Fresno, Calif. There are 16 teams in contention for the 50th Annual National Championship trophy in the event hosted by Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University and the Fresno Sports Council. In all, there are 15 games beginning with an 11:30 a.m. match on Dec. 1. There are four games scheduled during the first three days. The Semifinals are slated for Friday, Dec. 5 at 5 and 7:30 p.m. and the 2008 champion is crowned at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 6. For ticket information in Fresno, Calif., contact Michelle Boling at 559-453-2009.

Defending national champion Azusa Pacific (Calif.) is not on the participant list as the Cougars lost in an emotional conference championship game back on Nov. 17. The 2008 field is relatively new considering that two programs (Dana & Mount Vernon Nazarene) are making their first ever appearance and four others picked up their first Championship win in Opening Round action on Nov. 22.

No. 1 seed Oklahoma City is a team trying to become just the second No. 1 seed since 2002 to win the Championship -- Azusa Pacific was the top seed and won the 2007 ring. Senior defender and a 2007 NAIA Honorable Mention All-American Andy Taylor spearheads a defense to allow 0.86 goals per game.

The Stars have to face the Championship host, Fresno Pacific (Calif.) at 7 p.m. on Monday. FPU is playing host to is second Men’s Soccer National Championships. The SunBirds welcomed the 1984 event and was the national runners-up to West Virginia Wesleyan.

No. 3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.), who holds 35 wins all-time in the Championships, is one of two current teams (Fresno Pacific is the other) this year that advanced to the 2007 Quarterfinals. The Blue Raiders are riding a current 15-match unbeaten streak and boast nine shut-outs during that stretch. LWC is making its 16th appearance and 15th straight, which is the most straight trips by any school in the field. No. 11 Westmont (Calif.) is tied with Lindsey Wilson for the most active appearances (16) and stands with a 15-21-2 all-time mark in the Championships.

Another seasoned team in Championship action is Mobile (Ala.). In its 12th appearance, the Rams are one of four participants to own at least one championship. Mobile takes on Dana (Neb.) at 2 p.m. on Monday.

Rio Grande (Ohio), seeded No. 2 in the field, is looking to get back to early season form. The Red Storm jumped out to a 12-0-1 record to begin 2008 and was ranked No. 1 in the polls for four straight weeks. Rio won the 2003 Championship and has appeared in eight straight tournaments.

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For more information on the Championships, click here.

For the official Championship bracket, click here.

For the official Championship Press Book, click here.

2008 National Championship Schedule (All Times PST):

• Monday, December 1

Game 1: #15 Madonna (Mich.) vs. #2 Rio Grande (Ohio) -- 11:30 a.m.

Game 2: Mobile (Ala.) vs. Dana (Neb.) -- 2 p.m.

Game 3: #3 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) vs. #14 Mt. Vernon Nazarene -- 4:30 p.m.

Game 4: #1 Oklahoma City vs. Fresno Pacific (Calif.) -- 7 p.m.

• Tuesday, December 2

Game 5: #7 Notre Dame (Ohio) vs. #10 Maine-Fort Kent -- 11:30 a.m.

Game 6: Bethel (Tenn.) vs. #12 Southern Nazarene (Okla.) -- 2 p.m.

Game 7: #11 Westmont (Calif.) vs. Baker (Kan.) -- 4:30 p.m.

Game 8: Concordia (Ore.) vs. #8 Hastings (Neb.) -- 7 p.m.

• Wednesday, December 3

Game 9: NDC/UMFK Winner vs. MU/URG WInner -- 11:30 a.m. 

Game 10: BU/SNU Winner vs. UM/DC Winner -- 2 p.m. 

Game 11: LWC/MVNU Winner vs. WC/BU Winner -- 4:30 p.m. 

Game 12: OCU/FPU Winner vs. CU/HC Winner -- 7 p.m. 

• Friday, December 5

Game 13: Winner of Game 10 vs. Winner of Game 12 -- 5 p.m. 

Game 14: Winner of Game 9 vs. Winner of Game 11 -- 7:30 p.m.  

• Saturday, December 6 - Championship

Game 15: 6 p.m.

2008 National Championship Fun Facts:

• Fresno Pacific (Calif.) is hosting the National Championship for the second time. The SunBirds hosted the 1984 Championship in which West Virginia Wesleyan won by a 3-2 double-overtime count against FPU.

• Two teams earned an appearance at the National Championship final site as an At-Large berth -- No. 1 Oklahoma City and No. 2 Rio Grande (Ohio).

• Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is second in all-time wins with 35 looking up at Quincy’s (Ill.) 41 victories.

• This is the first Championship final site appearance for two schools: Dana (Neb.) and Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio).

• In the 2008 field, Maine-Fort Kent holds the most wins on the year with a 20-0-1 mark.

• Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and Westmont (Calif.) are each making their 16th overall Championship appearances -- Lindsey is playing in its 15th straight event while Westmont is competing for the first time since 2000.

• Four schools in this year’s event boast at least one National Championship: Lindsey Wilson (6), Mobile (Ala.), Rio Grande (Ohio) and Westmont each hold one. Quincy (Ill.) sports 11 national championships -- the most all-time of any men’s soccer program.

• After Azusa Pacific (Calif.) won the 2007 title, that marked the sixth straight season that a different team won the ring.

• Since pool play was eliminated prior to 1999, just three No. 1 seeds have played in the title game - Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in 2007, Lindsey Wilson in 2001 and Mobile (Ala.) in 1999.