NAIA Men’s Soccer Opening Round Preview

BELLEVUE, Neb. - The 14^th-ranked Bellevue University men's soccer team will remain in-state, making a trip to Hastings, Neb. for an NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round match-up with 8^th-ranked Hastings College on Saturday, Nov. 22. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.

The Bruins (14-2-2/5-0-0 MCAC), unbeaten in their last seven contests (6-0-1), won the Midlands Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament last Friday to claim the conference's lone automatic bid, using penalty kicks to down Oklahoma Wesleyan University after a thrilling 2-2 double-overtime draw.

The Broncos (17-2-2/9-0-1 GPAC), winners of 11 straight and unbeaten in their last 13 matches (12-0-1) claimed the Great Plains Athletic Conference Tournament title with a 1-0 victory over Midland University last Friday to secure an automatic bid.

The Series:     Bellevue leads the all-time series with a mark of 5-4-1 in 10 matches to date. Hastings won the lone post-season match-up between the two schools that took place back in 2002, registering a 3-2 victory in the second round of the Region IV Tournament.

Tournament: Bellevue is making their second straight appearance in the tournament, and fourth overall. The Bruins are 1-3-0 all-time in the NAIA Tournament with their lone victory, a 2-0 result against Bethel (Ind.), coming in 2009. Hastings is making their 11^th appearance in the National Tournament and seventh in a row. Their best finish came in 2010 when the Broncos capped a perfect season (25-0-0) with their lone national championship.

The tournament field consists of 31 teams. The 31 teams are comprised of 22 automatic qualifiers - which earned berths by winning conference, independent and unaffiliated group tournament or regular-season titles - and eight at-large teams - selected by the final Modified Ratings Percentage Index (MRPI), announced today. The 31st team, Northwood, earns an Opening Round bye and will play in Delray Beach, Fla.

The eight at-large berths were awarded based on the final NAIA Men's Soccer MRPI, announced on Sunday, Nov. 16. The MRPI consists of the team's modified winning percentage, their opponent's winning percentage and the cumulative ratings points from the NAIA Men's Soccer Coaches' Top 25 Poll.

Bellevue Game Notes:

• MCAC Freshman of the Year Rob Smith (Lincoln, England) is currently sixth nationally with six game-winning goals on the season.
• Senior First Team All-MCAC pick Scott Robertson (Burnley, England), who made a pair of great diving stops in the penalty shootout victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan, owns a miserly 0.66 goals against average to rank eight in the country.
• Bellevue's nine shutouts rank 14^th nationally while their 2.44 goals per game rank 46^th and their 44 goals scored ranks 47^th.
• Bellevue's 7-match unbeaten streak (6-0-1) is their longest since winning seven straight during the 2012 season.
• Bellevue has conceded just 12 goals on the season which currently stands as the best in program history. The previous record was 15, recorded in both 2008 and 2009.
• Prior to transferring to Bellevue to finish his collegiate playing career, current Bruin head coach Matt Briggs played for current Hastings coach Chris Kranjc.

Hastings Game Notes:

• Senior Jack Ramsay ranks nationally in six separate offensive categories: 21^st in total points (35), 26^th in total goals (14), 27^th in game-winning goals (4), 34^th in shots on goal per game (2.00), and 44^th in both points per game (1.75) and shots per game (3.65).
• Junior Alex Guyer ranks second nationally with a 0.46 goals against average.
• Sophomore Lucas Venegas is 48^th nationally with eight total assists.
• Hastings has allowed just 13 goals on the season and are averaging just 0.62 goals allowed per game.
• The 13 shutouts posted by the Broncos ranks second nationally.
• Hastings is 12^th in the country with 60 goals scored on the season and are averaging 2.86 goals per game which ranks 29^th.

Players to Watch:

Bellevue –

• Sr. GK Scott Robertson (11-2-2, 0.66 GAA, .811 Save Pct., 5 Shutouts)
• Sr. LB Vinny Braga (3 Goals, 3 Assists, 9 Points)
• Sr. MF Manuel Lira (9 G, 6 A, 24 P)
• Sr. CM Kristopher McFadyen (1 G, 5 A, 7 P)
• Jr. CB Alan Carr (1 G, 3 A, 5 P)
• Jr. MF Tobias Maertzke (10 G, 6 A, 26 P)
• So. CB Lee Woolmore (3 G, 2 A, 8 P)
• Fr. MF Rob Smith (11 G, 7 A, 29 P)

Hastings –

• Sr. B Shane Davidson (1 Goal, 3 Assists, 5 Points)
• Sr. F Jack Ramsay (14 G, 7 A, 35 P)
• Jr. GK Alex Guyer (16-1-2, 0.46 GAA, .816 Save Pct., 13 Shutouts)
• So. F Lucas Venegas (4 G, 8 A, 16 P)
• Fr. F Damien Austen (6 G, 1 A, 13 P)
• Fr. B Marc Tautz (6 G, 3 A, 15 P)

What's next?  The winner of this game will advance to the final site, along with 14 other teams and host Northwood. They will take on the winner of the Indiana Wesleyan vs. Vanguard (Calif.) match.