2021 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship - Round 1 Preview
DECATUR, Ala. – [Final Site Bracket] The moment is finally here. We are less than 24 hours away from the start of the 2021 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship at Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Alabama. Four teams will open up play on the pitch on November 30th at 1:00 PM CST and 4:00 PM CST looking to make a march to the Championship Game on December 6th.
The NAIA Network – the association’s official video streaming home – will broadcast all eight matches live at the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship final site in Decatur, Ala. with the championship game being shown on ESPN3. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-championship tournament package is available at $34.95. For more information and to pre-register, click HERE.
No. 8 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) vs. No. 9 Ottawa (Ariz.)
- MNU reaches Decatur, Alabama via the Bellevue Bracket which included beating the Bruins on their home pitch. Prior, they defeated McPherson (Kan.) 3-nil. The Pioneers have taken 23 shots so far in the tournament, which is the fewest by any team to make it out of bracket play. They have been whistled for the third most fouls of the final 10 teams (31) and secured the fourth most corner kicks (13).
- Reaching the Opening Round by at-large selection, the Spirit are playing with house money. As the third seed in the Miami Gardens Bracket they defeated Georgia Gwinnet by one goal and then scored the golden goal to knock off the host St. Thomas. OUAZ is tied for second in most goals scored in a match during the Opening Round (3) and is ranked eighth in total goals scored and seventh in assists. Tom Cohen posted five points in the upset of the Bobcats, which places him second on the standings for the Opening Round. As a team, they have taken 12 shots and scored four.
No. 7 Columbia (Mo.) vs. No. 10 Marymount California
- The Cougars secured their berth to the final site by winning the Columbia Bracket on their home field, pitching shutouts of both Point (Ga.) and Lindsey Wilson (Ky.). Columbia has scored the second most goals in the tournament (6) as well as the second most assists (6). They are tied for fourth in total shots taken (32). Defensively, CC is tied for first in goals allowed (0) and total shutouts (2). Nathan Durdle leads the entire field with six points in a game as well as the most goals in a game with his hat trick against Lindsey Wilson. Rece Gilmore is second on the roster with three shots on goal, only trailing Durdle.
- Marymount California is the Cinderella of the tournament, upsetting both the #1 and #2 seeded teams in the Costa Mesa Bracket. The Mariners shocked MACU 3-2 and then outlasted hosting Vanguard 2-1 in double overtime. Michael Dario posted 10 saves in a single game the Mariners in their defeat of the Lions, which ranks second among the initial 40-team field. The Mariners are fifth in total gals (5) and tied for seventh in assists (3). The squad has fired off 32 shots which ranks fourth in the field. Defensively, MCU made its mark recording the most saves (14) and the most fouls (40).
This year’s field included 27 automatic qualifiers and 13 at-large. Automatic berths were given to teams that either won their respective conference tournament title, regular-season championship, finished runner-up at the conference tournament or were awarded the conference automatic berth in the absence of a conference tournament. The at-large bids were determined by the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Selection Committee. This committee consists of one representative from each geographical area, a representative from the National Administrative Council, the president of the NAIA-Men’s Soccer Coaches Association, and three at-large members. The committee evaluated teams throughout the year on various criteria.