Soccer Cats to Host Columbia Cougars in NAIA National Championships
MCKENZIE, Tenn. – The No. 10 Bethel University Wildcats will host the (RV) Columbia College Cougars in the second round of the 2023 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Saturday at Wildcat Stadium. The match will begin at noon CT.
The winner will head to Wichita, Kan. at the NAIA National Championship final site. Scheels Stryker Sports Complex will be the host for final site action from November 27 – December 4, 2023, hosted by Visit Wichita.
The NAIA Network – the association's official video streaming home – will broadcast 14 matches live at the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship final site in Wichita, Kan., and the championship match will be on ESPN3. The NAIA Network, powered by Presto Sports, 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.
How they got here:
The Wildcats received an at-large bid. It will be the 11th appearance in the nationals for Bethel. The Cats are 10-7-1 all-time in the tournament. The Cougars were the American Midwest Conference Tournament champions. It was their 12th tournament title. It will be the 14th appearance in the nationals for the Cougars. They are 18-11-12 in championship appearances.
Columbia is 12-4-4 and their 15th consecutive season with double-digit wins.
The Cougars have won four in a row. Their last loss was a 5-2 decision to Bethel back on October 24 in McKenzie.
10/24 Recap:
The Wildcats fell behind 2-nil early in that match in Wildcat Stadium. There was no panic in the ranks however as Bethel stormed back to score three goals and lead the break 3-2.
Goffin Oyirworth scored an unassisted goal and then Hubert Oduya Kompany tied the match on an assist from Sar-jar Blair. Kompany gave the Wildcats the lead after an assist from Oyirworth.
The Wildcats extended their margin in the second period on a goal by Nicolas Ruiz. Blair had the assist.
The Cougars had no answer for Oyiworth and Kompany as they teamed up for another score at the 69:26 mark. Oyiworth scored with Kompany on the assist to make it a 5-2 Bethel.
Bethel outshot the Cougars 24-9 and had a 15-8 margin in shots on goal. Norberto Lima Vieira recorded six Wildcat saves.
Wildcat Notes:
Bethel is 13-4. The Wildcats dropped a 3-0 decision to Lindsey Wilson in the MSC Semifinals.
Gregory Cousins led the Wildcats with 11 goals on the season. Hubert Oduya Kompany had nine goals. Stanley Isaac and Goffin Oyirworth each had six assists.
Senior Norberto Lima Vieira Vieira is the all-time career leader in saves at the school with 249.He has 57 of those this year. Vieira also has the record for most wins in net with 39.
Watch:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/sports/msoc/2023-24/boxscores/20231118_o6mw.xml
Stats:
https://bethel.prestosports.com/sports/msoc/2023-24/boxscores/20231118_o6mw.xml
Tickets:
https://www.bethelathletics.com/tickets