Statesmen Earn #3 Overall Seed, Host Governors State, Missouri Baptist in Opening Round
Oskaloosa--The William Penn men's soccer team will once again play hosts in the postseason as it enters the NAIA National Championship Opening Round presented by Select Sport America.
WPU (16-2-3), which collected an automatic berth by winning the Heart of America Athletic Conference Championship title last week, will receive a bye as the #3 overall seed. The navy and gold will stay at home in Oskaloosa, hosting the winner of the Governors State (Ill.) vs. Missouri Baptist game on Saturday at Drost Field at 2 p.m.
GSU (15-2-4) and MBU (12-5-4) will begin the Opening Round event on Thursday at Drost Field at 3 p.m.
The NAIA's top eight overall seeds will host three-team brackets (games on Thursday and Saturday), while Seeds 9-16 host a single contest on Saturday. The 16 bracket winners will then advance to the Final Site in Wichita, Kan. from December 2-9.
Both Oskaloosa Opening Round matchups will be broadcast FREE by WPU HERE. Live stats will also be available.
Tickets can only be purchased online HERE
William Penn defeated Governors State 2-0 in its lone matchup back in 2003, while falling to Missouri Baptist 4-0 in the only game between the two program back in 2003.
#3 seed William Penn
Simon Brown is in his fifth season at William Penn with a current record of 64-31-10. WPU is one of five representatives from the Heart in the 40-team nationals field. The Statesmen are 2-5 all-time at nationals.
William Penn had seven all-Heart performers, paced by four first-team honorees. Connor O'Reilly (Sr., Letterkenny, Ireland, General Accounting) was chosen as the Heart Newcomer of the Year.
Hugo Cornish (So., Sydney, Australia, Business Management) leads the Statesmen offense with 11 goals, while Sean Bohan (Sr., Dublin, Ireland, Business Management) has a 0.76 Goals Against Average.
The Statesmen have outscored their foes 57-17 and have notched nine shutouts this fall.
William Penn, which started the campaign at 11-0-1, has not lost in its last six contests (4-0-2). The Statesmen are 6-1 against teams heading to the Opening Round.
Governors State
Matt Eggert, who is the only men's soccer coach in Governors State history, is in his sixth season with a current record of 64-34-16. GSU earned its bid by winning the Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Tournament crown; Governors State also won the CCAC regular season crown. The Jaguars are the only representatives from the CCAC to qualify for nationals.
Governors State claimed seven all-conference awards, including five on the first team. Andrea Croce was tabbed as the CCAC Player and Offensive Player of the Year. The Jaguars have outscored opponents 69-18 and have posted eight shutouts. Croce is pacing the squad with 17 goals, while Marcal Salom Chandre has a 0.84 Goals Against Average.
Governors State has not lost since September 10, posting a 13-0-2 over its last 15 contests.
Missouri Baptist
Jake Alvernia is in his 12th season at Missouri Baptist with a current record of 104-91-24. MBU, which is making its third trip to nationals all-time, earned its bid by winning the American Midwest Conference Tournament title. The Spartans are the only representatives from the AMC to qualify for nationals.
Missouri Baptist claimed six all-conference awards, including four on the first team. The Spartans have outscored opponents 59-28 and have posted six shutouts. Marko Dordevic leads the squad with 15 goals, while Pawell Wolny has a 0.82 Goals Against Average.
MBU has faced 10 teams that were ranked or receiving votes at the time, owning a 4-4-2 record in those matchups). Missouri Baptist enters nationals on a 12-game streak without a loss (8-0-4).
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