WICHITA, Kan. - [Championship Bracket | Final Site Schedule | Watch Live | Live Stats] The Roadrunners from Dalton State (Ga.) will play for the National Championship Monday, after beating Cumberlands (Ky.) 4-0 during the 2024 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. This marks the 17th shutout by the DSC defense this season, led by goalkeeper Nicolas Leite.

In a highly anticipated match-up between two programs who had never reached the Semifinals of the Battle For The Red Banner, it was Dalton State who showed why they were voted as the top team during the regular season. 

The game started off strong for the Roadrunners, with Giovanni Poliero scoring the first goal at 11:10, giving them an early lead. Jack Stainrod added to the lead with a goal at 20:21, putting Dalton State up 2-0 going into halftime.

In the second half, Dalton State continued to showcase their offensive prowess with Juan Demichelis scoring at 49:05, followed by Leonardo Seixas finding the back of the net at 63:10, extending their lead to 4-0.

Cumberlands fought hard throughout the match, with players like Gerard Liao, Fabio Galeano, and Mario Fernandez attempting quality shots on goal. However, they were unable to break through Dalton State's defense, led by Leite, who made five crucial saves to secure the shutout victory.

The game was not without its share of penalties, with both teams receiving multiple yellow cards for various infractions. Dalton State's disciplined play and strong offensive performance ultimately led them to a convincing win over Cumberlands.

Overall, Dalton State's unbeaten record remains intact as they improved to 21-0-2 on the season, while Cumberlands fell to 15-3-3. The Roadrunners will face the winner of No. 3 William Penn (Iowa) and No. 10 William Carey (Miss.).

Championship Event Info:

The 66th Annual NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship features a total of 16 teams and is played from December 2nd - 9th at Scheels Stryker Sports Complex and is hosted by Visit Wichita. 

NAIA Men’s Soccer Championship will be broadcast for FREE on Urban Edge Network and the newly redesigned NAIA Network. This includes all matches in Wichita, Kan., including the championship match and the awards presentation. Fans can watch their favorite team from anywhere in the world.