Dec. 2, 2008

Updated Bracket | Click Here

FRESNO, Calif. – Round two of the 2008 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship came to a conclusion today (Dec. 2) and eight teams have qualified for the Quarterfinal Round. Hosted by Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University, four games are scheduled for tomorrow beginning with an 11:30 a.m. PST match between Maine-Fort Kent and Rio Grande (Ohio).

Day 2 Recap – Second Round (Dec. 2):

Game 8: No. 8 Hastings (Neb.) def. Concordia (Ore.) 1-0

No. 8 seed Hastings (Neb.) College won a 1-0 defensive battle over Concordia (Ore.) University.

Shots were at a premium for both teams and there were a total of 23 shots but just four combined shots on goal. Both teams could not light up the scoreboard in the first half thanks to superb defensive play.

In the 61^st minute, Hastings Greg Dodds hit the top cross bar that deflected right to Josh Moran in the box. Moran followed through with a header that floated over the goaltender’s hands. That play from Moran handed Hastings a 1-0 lead and sent the Broncos to tomorrow’s match.

Goaltender Cody Poteat notched two saves for the win.

Game 7: No. 11 Westmont (Calif.) def. Baker (Kan.) 1-0

No. 11 seed Westmont (Calif.) College forward Dan Sargent scored the only goal of the game as the Warriors defeated Baker (Kan.) University by a score of 1-0. As a result, Westmont, will advance to the quarterfinals to take on seventh-ranked and fourteenth-seeded Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) on Wednesday at 4:30 p.m.  Baker concludes its season with a record of 14-7-2.

The victory extends the Warriors win streak to seven and continues a remarkable post-season journey. Westmont keeper Justin Etherton notched his eighth shutout of the season, recording four saves in the process. Both teams took 15 shots during the contest which was played on a wet field due to overcast skies and a slight mist.

Game 6: Bethel (Tenn.) def. No. 12 Southern Nazarene (Okla.) 2-0

Bethel (Tenn.) will play at least one more game after defeating No. 12 seed Southern Nazarene (Okla.) University 2-0. Bethel held a 21-6 advantage in total shots led by Dawyne Smith’s six attempts. The Wildcats extend their unbeaten streak to 11 matches.

Both teams played to a scoreless tie after 45 minutes. The game’s first goal came in the 72^nd minute off the foot of Smith. The assist was credited to Armando Orozco. Just 12 minutes later, Felix Obilo gave Bethel (14-5-2) breathing room with his third goal of the year. Smith notched his third point of the game with an assist on Obilo’s goal.

The win gives Bethel its second ever in Championship play with the first coming in the First Round.

Game 5: No. 10 Maine-Fort Kent tied No. 7 Notre Dame (Ohio) 2-2 (UMFK wins 5-4 in PK’s)

The University of Maine-Fort Kent and Notre Dame (Ohio) College played to a 2-2 draw after two overtimes. Maine-Fort Kent advances to the Quarterfinals courtesy of winning in a shoot-out by a 5-4 margin.

UMFK took the early 1-0 lead in the eighth minute off a goal from Andre Anderson, his 26^th on the year. The assist went to Keith Williams II. Notre Dame would eventually take a 2-1 lead thanks to a pair of goals from Luke Holmes. The freshman forward leads the team this year in goals scored, now with 17. His second marker handed NDC a 2-1 advantage in the 57^th minute.

UMFK's leading goal scorer this year, Williams II notched his 29^th goal, in the 70^th minute to knot the game at 2-2.

Both teams played through two scoreless overtime periods before the shoot-out. The Bengals were able to advance by scoring on their sixth shoot-out kick. Overall, UMFK scored goals on five of their shoot-out kicks while NDC was four-for-six.

Day 2 Notes:

Two of the four games today were won by the lower or unseeded team…  The shoot-out between Maine-Fort Kent and Notre Dame marked the fourth such match of the 2008 Championships – UMFK has been involved in two of these… There were three shutouts today, which bring the 2008 total to 10 blankings… Mount Vernon Nazarene is making the most of its first ever National Championship appearance – the Cougars are still alive and face Westmont in the Quarterfinals… Still undefeated on the season at 20-0-2, Maine-Fort Kent holds the most wins of any Quarterfinal participant… Of the eight quarterfinalists, Mobile, Rio Grande and Westmont all own at least one National Championship title.

On the Docket for Wednesday - Quarterfinals:

All Times PST | Updated Bracket

11:30 a.m. – No. 10 Maine-Fort Kent vs. No. 2 Rio Grande (Ohio)

2 p.m. – Bethel (Tenn.) vs. Mobile (Ala.)

4:30 p.m. – No. 11 Westmont (Calif.) vs. No. 14 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio)

7 p.m. – No. 1 Oklahoma City vs. No. 8 Hastings (Neb.)