DECATUR, Ala. – [Bracket | Schedule] The clock finally ran down to kickoff of the 2021 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship on a beautiful day at Jack Allen Soccer Complex. In the first two games of the tournament, the higher seeds advanced (Columbia and MidAmerica Nazarene) and as a result will face the two highest seeds in the bracket (Central Methodist and Oklahoma Wesleyan). 

GAME NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS

• MidAmerica Nazarene boasts a 14-6-1 record; Columbia is now 14-2-3 on the season.
• OUAZ and Marymount Californa have been eliminated from championship play. 

No. 8 MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) defeats No. 9 Ottawa (Ariz.) 4-3 (2OT)

• OUAZ lit up the scoreboard first as Mark Lydford scored in the 19^th minute; Tinashe Simbo put the Spirit up 2-0 just three minutes later.
• The Pioneers cut the difference in half before the intermission, with Rick Hovinga finding the back of the net at 31:58.
• At 56:33 Duarte Chapelas tied the game 2-2, the first of two times for MidAmerica Nazarene.
• The Spirit once again put themselves up by a score by Joaquin Bermejillo.
• With seven minutes remaining, Nicholas Richmond recorded the equalizing.
• Four minutes into the second overtime, Chapelas netted the game winner – his second of the contest.
• Both teams rattled off nine shots in the first half; OUAZ was +7 in the second half, but MNU controlled both overtime periods. For the game the Spirit had 25, Pioneers 20.
• Both keepers were busy as Andrea Dorella (MNU) saved eight and Angel Ramirez (OUAZ) six.

No. 7 Columbia (Mo.) defeats No. 10 Marymount California 2-0

• Columbia began the game as the higher ranked seed and earned the 2-nil victory to continue their journey chasing the Red Banner.
• Joey Spotanski scored the first goal in the 19^th minute and then in the 62^nd minute Erik Rajoy finds Jackson Schrum for the assurance goal.
• Despite the two goal difference on the scoreboard, Marymount California only trailed 14-11 in shots taken.
• Spotanski and Renan Lopes Monteiro led both of their teams in shots (3).
• Cougars keeper Liam Gibbs recorded saves on all three shots he faces.

COVERAGE

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