Rio Grande, WVU Tech represent RSC in NAIA Men's Soccer Opening Round
Rio Grande, WVU Tech represent RSC in NAIA Men's Soccer Opening Round
FLORENCE, Ky. -- The top two teams in River States Conference will represent the league in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round Nov. 19, each taking a high seed in the 31-team national tournament.
University of Rio Grande (Ohio) (18-1-1, 7-0-1 RSC) is the No. 2 national seed coming off its RSC Tournament title. The RedStorm defeated WVU Tech (16-2-2, 7-0-1) in the finals, and the Golden Bears are the No. 8 seed in the NAIA tournament.
Rio Grande and WVU Tech will both be looking to advance through the NAIA Opening Round Nov. 19 and qualify for the NAIA National Championship final site Nov. 28-Dec. 3 at Delray Beach, Fla. There, the 15 opening round winners will join host Keiser (Fla.) for the rest of the national tournament.
Rio Grande, the defending NAIA national champions, will host St. Thomas (Fla.) (9-6-2) in the NAIA Opening Round Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. ET. St. Thomas qualified as the Sun Conference Tournament champion. Live Video will be broadcast on Stretch Internet, and Live Stats will be on Dakstats.
Rio Grande is making its 16th straight and 16th overall appearance in the national tournament. The RedStorm have two NAIA championships on their resume, and lead the nation in total goals this year with 84. The Rio Grande defense ranks fifth in the country will 11 goals given up in 20 games.
WVU Tech is in the NAIA national tournament for the second time in its history and the second year in a row. The Golden Bears will host an NAIA Opening Round game for the first time when they welcome No. 19 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) (16-3-2) on Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. ET. Olivet Nazarene qualified as the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season champion. Live Video will be on YouTube with Live Stats on Dakstats.
WVU Tech has its offense ranked first in the NAIA in total assists with 64 and seventh in total goals with 72. The Golden Bears' defense ranks sixth in the country in shutouts with 12 in 20 games.
2016 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round -- Nov. 19 at Campus Sites
St. Thomas (Fla.) (9-6-2) at No. 2 Rio Grande (Ohio), Nov. 19 at 12 p.m. ET -- Rio Grande, Ohio
Live Video Live Stats
No. 19 Olivet Nazarene (Ill.) at No. 8 WVU Tech, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m. ET -- Beckley, W.Va.
Live Video Live Stats