Dec. 1, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. – (Box Score) Rio Grande (Ohio) won 2-1 over Madonna (Mich.) in the first game (Dec. 1) of the 50^th Annual NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship at the final site, hosted by Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University. The Red Storm, seeded No. 2 in the tournament, posted 18 shots on goal. Rio advances to Wednesday’s (Dec. 3) match at 11:30 a.m. PST and plays the winner of No. 7 Notre Dame (Ohio) and No. 10 Maine-Fort Kent.

Rio’s Paul Nicholson got the scoring started in the 41^st minute taking a pass from Ederson Lopes. That marker was Nicholson’s eighth goal of the year. The game winner came off the foot of Sam Fairhurst in the 60^th minute, which was again assisted by Lopes.

Eric Kiebert set up Madonna’s lone goal finding Doron Drai, which resulted in Drai’s third goal of the season. That brought the count to 2-1 in the 75^th minute.

In the net, Madonna’s Anthony DeMarco stopped 13 saves. That total was the first time a goaltender posted 10 or more saves in the Championship since Brian Cochrum of Oklahoma Christian had 10 in 2006.

Nate Walzer improved to 10-2 this year in the net for Rio Grande.

Members of the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference, Madonna ends its season with a 16-4-1 record in its eighth Championship appearance.

 
For more information on the 2008 National Championship, click here.