IRVINE, Calif. -- The Madonna University men's soccer team is preparing for the NAIA National Championship semifinal vs. No. 3 Central Methodist University tomorrow at 9:30 p.m. ET. Central Methodist enters the contest 20-2-2 overall while the Crusaders have a record of 19-4-0.
Both teams qualified for the National Tournament by winning their respective conferences, though both lost in the conference tournament. Central Methodist is making their first appearance at the National Tournament in program history while the Crusaders are making their fifth and second straight appearance.
Madonna and Central Methodist will meet for the first time. Madonna has beaten No. 7 Lindsey Wilson in the opening round, No. 10 ranked Bellevue in the second round, and recently a 1-0 victory against No. 2 Oklahoma Wesleyan in the quarterfinal. Central Methodist beat Huntington University in the opening round, Mid America Christian in the second round, and recorded a 1-0 victory against Rocky Mountain College in their quarterfinal match.
NATIONAL RANKING
- (MRPI) as of Nov. 9, 2018
- No. 4 - Central Methodist
- No. 28 - Madonna University
- NAIA Poll No. 10 (Nov. 6)
- No. 3 - Central Methodist (471 points, 3 first-place votes)
- No. 19 - Madonna University (184 points)
STAT LEADERS
- POINTS
- GOALS
- Yuri Farkas Gugliemi - Madonna - 24
- Daniel Hernandez - Central Methodist - 20
- ASSISTS
- Daniel Hernandez - Central Methodist - 16
- Marlon Freitas - Madonna - 10
- GOALKEEPER (SAVES/GOALS AGAINST AVERAGE)
- Vince Gelei - 73 saves - 0.47 GAA
- Joe Smith - 46 saves - 0.78 GAA
The game is set to take place at 9:30 p.m. tomorrow, Nov. 30. The winner of the game will advance to the championship game against the winner of William Carey and Missouri Valley, the latter being the team that eliminated the Crusaders from the tournament last year.
The Championship game is slated for a 9 p.m. ET start on Saturday, Dec. 1.
The NAIA Network – the association's official video-streaming home – will broadcast all final-site matches live in Irvine, Calif. 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-tournament package is available for $29.95.
There will be free live video of the game available at Coaches Corner in Livonia, located at 19170 Farmington Road. Come support your Crusaders at 9:30 p.m. EST!
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