2008 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship - Semifinal #1

	Bethel (Tenn.) has now shut-out all four Championship opponents during its run to the title game (photo courtesy of www.kphotos.net)

Dec. 5, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. – (box score) Unseeded Bethel (Tenn.) College used three first-half goals and a strong defense to defeat No. 1 seed Oklahoma City University 4-0 tonight (Dec. 5) in the first Semifinal at the 50^th Annual NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship final site, hosted by Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University. The Wildcats will advance to their first ever National Championship final. Bethel extended its unbeaten streak to 13 straight and has not allowed a goal now in all four of its Championship games this year.

Bethel will play tomorrow (Dec. 6) at 6 p.m. PST against the winner of the second Semifinal between Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) and Rio Grande (Ohio).

Mario Vila Boa hit his second goal of the Championship, this one in the 26^th minute. He was assisted by Armando Orozco. That marker was all Bethel needed as the defense stepped up throughout the match. Coming into the Semifinal match with 10 Championship goals, OCU was blanked in the scoring column tonight and managed just three shots on goal.

Erick Rosas added the second and third goals of the game, all before the half, in staking BC to a 3-0 lead. Fredrik Ekvall closed out the scoring in the 58^th minute.

Bethel goalkeeper Massimo Collu-Marchese notched his fourth straight shut-out by stopping all three OCU shots on goal.

Oklahoma City finishes its season with a 20-3-1 record, the first 20-win season since 2001.

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

Game Notes:

The four goals scored marks the most for Bethel in Championship play… During its current four match streak of not allowing a goal, Bethel has scored 12 goals… Bethel and Oklahoma City both played in their first ever Semifinal and faced each other for the first time in the Championships … With Oklahoma City getting eliminated as the No. 1 seed, just one top seed has now won the national title in the last seven Championships (Azusa Pacific in 2007)… The 20-win season for OCU is its third in school history… The three goals allowed by Oklahoma City are the most this year.