Dec. 5, 2008

FRESNO, Calif. – (box score) No. 2 seed Rio Grande (Ohio) earned its second ever trip to the Championship final after a 1-0 win over No. 14 Mount Vernon Nazarene (Ohio) tonight (Dec. 5) in the second Semifinal at the 50^th Annual NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship final site, hosted by Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University. Rio Grande (Ohio) will take on Bethel (Tenn.) tomorrow (Dec. 6) at 6 p.m. PST in the Championship final. Saturday’s Championship final will be the first ever for Bethel and second for Rio Grande.

Both MVNU and Rio Grande are familiar with each other as both belong to the American Mideast Conference. The teams played to a 0-0 draw in the first meeting while Mt. Vernon won the second match-up 1-0.

The Rio Grande defense was the storyline tonight shutting down the MVNU offense. The Cougars tallied only two shots on goal and six overall shots. That defensive stand allowed the URG offense to contain the ball on their end and rip off 25 shots overall and eight on goal.

Rio Grande’s Jon Brooks directed a kick from 30 yards out and hit the back of the net in the 12^th minute. It appeared that goaltender Alex Stout was blinded by a few players and could not see the shot attempt. That goal allowed was the first for Stout and the MVNU defense in four games.

The Red Storm defense stayed solid throughout turning away any MVNU offensive burst. Goaltender Nate Walzer earner the win posting one save.

Mt. Vernon Nazarene wraps up its year with an 18-4-2 overall record. The Cougars made the most of their first ever Championship appearance making the school’s first ever Semifinal in any sport.

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

Game Notes:
Rio Grande now holds a 9-2 scoring advantage in the postseason and has blanked two straight opponents… The goal in the 11^th minute by Rio Grande was the first allowed for MVNU in the 2008 Championships and first since the conference championship (Nov. 15)… With this Semifinal appearance, Mount Vernon Nazarene made the school’s first ever Semifinal trip in any sport in school history… Of the Semifinalists, Rio Grande is the only program to boast a National Championship title with one back in 2003... Rio Grande is appearing in its third ever Semifinal while Mount Vernon Nazarene is playing in its first Semifinal… Rio Grande is 1-0 all-time in Championship finals defeating Fresno Pacific (Calif.) 1-0 during the 2003 title game in Olathe, Kan.… MVNU set two school single-season records this year, fewest goals allowed (16 in 24 games) and best winning percentage (.792).