ONU MEN'S SOCCER NAIA TOURNAMENT FIRST AND SECOND ROUND PREVIEW: COLUMBIA
OPENING ROUND COLUMBIA BRACKET SCHEDULE
Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 1:30 p.m. CST*
[1] No. 3 Central Methodist (Mo.) (15-0-5, 9-0-3 HAAC) vs. [4] Saint Mary's (Kan.) (13-4-3, 9-2-3 KCAC)
Live Video | Live Stats/Box Score | Tickets
Thursday, November 17, 2022, at 7 p.m. CST*
[2] No. 17 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (16-1-3, 9-0-3 CCAC) vs. [3] No. 20 Rio Grande (Ohio) (14-3-2, 8-0-1 RSC)
Live Video | Tickets
Saturday, November 19, 2022, at 1 p.m. CST*
Game 1 Winner vs. Game 2 Winner
Live Video | Tickets
*Games played at Muriel Williams Battle High School
Olivet Nazarene, currently in a three-way tie for No. 17 in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll and 17th in the final Modified Ratings Percentage Index (MRPI), is making their ninth NAIA National Tournament appearance overall and first under first-year head coach Danny Brandt.
Olivet qualified for the postseason tournament by winning the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season title for the second consecutive season, earning the first of two bids allotted to the CCAC.
Rio Grande, ranked 20th nationally in the latest NAIA Coaches' Poll and 23rd in the final MRPI, is making its 21st NAIA National Tournament appearance overall and 18th consecutive appearance under current head coach Scott Morrissey.
URG qualified by winning the River States Conference Tournament, earning the sole automatic bid allotted to the RSC.
No. 3 Central Methodist (Mo.) and Saint Mary's (Kan.) earned automatic bids from their conference. The winners of the Columbia Bracket first-round matches will meet on Saturday, Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. CST with the winner advancing to Decatur, Ala. for the NAIA National Championship series Nov. 29-Dec. 5.
HISTORY IN THE NAIA TOURNAMENT
This is the second consecutive NAIA Tournament appearance for the Tigers. Last year, ONU had the early lead over No, 8 Bellevue but ultimately fell 2-1. The last time ONU advanced past the first round was in 2012 with a 3-2 win in overtime over No. 8 Kansas Wesleyan. The men's soccer program is 2-9 all-time in the tournament.
SCOUTING URG
Head coach Scott Morrissey leads the Red Storm. Morrissey took the helm in 1989 and has led Rio Grande to 21 tournament appearances, four national title game appearances, and two NAIA National Championships. Eight URG players were tabbed in the RSC post-season awards with the junior midfielder, Vilius Labutis, gaining Fist-Team, Offensive Player of the Year, and Player of the Year honors.
Rio Grande is currently riding a 14-game undefeated streak and most recently won the RSC Tournament Final 4-2 over West Virginia Tech. The Red Storm played CCAC opponents, Saint Xavier and Cardinal Stritch, in the non-conference slate earlier this year, defeating both, 11-0 and 2-0 respectively.
HOW TO FOLLOW
Keep tabs on your Tigers in their National Title quest by following ONU social media accounts. Please visit onutigers.com for the most updated links.
--ONU—
*Contact Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant; pkaindl@olivet.edu