By Chad Waller, Director of Communications & Sports Information
NAIA Network Men’s Soccer Match of the Week, presented by Stretch Internet
No. 8 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) at No. 14 Vanguard (Calif.)
Friday, Sept. 2 | 5 p.m. PDT | Costa Mesa, Calif. | Vanguard Soccer Complex
Live video – courtesy of Vanguard & Stretch Internet
· The 2016 season marks the second year for the NAIA Network Men’s Soccer Game of the Week, presented by Stretch Internet. These contests highlight member schools that utilize Stretch Internet – the NAIA’s official video partner for 24-of-25 national championships – as their online video partner. At least one of the two schools in the Match of the Week is a Stretch Internet client.
· The NAIA Network (www.NAIANetwork.com) is the official video-streaming portal of the NAIA.
· The first NAIA Match of the Week pairs up No. 8 Rocky Mountain (Mont.) with No. 14 Vanguard (Calif.) on Friday.
· Rocky Mountain opened up its 2016 campaign with a 4-0 defeat of NCAA Division II member Mary (N.D.) on Aug. 27.
· The Lions tallied a 2-0 shutout of La Sierra (Calif.) on Tuesday. Brandon Gomez stopped two shots to get credit with the victory in the net.
· These two clubs last met on Sept. 20, 2014 in Costa Mesa, Calif. Rocky Mountain capitalized on all three shots on goal to escape with a 3-1 victory. Mason Luse recorded the game-winner in the 31st minute of action.
· Rocky Mountain sophomore forward Nolan Sherwood returns to the mix after finishing 2015 with the second-most goals (13) and points (30) on the team. Sherwood was part of an offense to rank sixth in the NAIA in total goals (72) and 15th in goals per match (3.0).
· The Battlin’ Bears, who finished with a 17-3-4 record, was a 2015 championship quarterfinalist participant. Rocky lost to Missouri Valley, 3-0, on Dec. 2 in Delray Beach, Fla. It was the first time in school history Rocky Mountain advanced to the round of eight.
· Vanguard turns to senior forward Juan Arellano after he finished with nine goals and seven assists last year. A native of Hawthorne, Calif., Arellano earned 2015 NAIA Second Team All-America honors.
· The Lions advanced to the 2015 championship second round, falling by a 2-0 count to MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) on Dec. 1. The Lions posted a 16-5-0 mark.
Some information courtesy of Vanguard and Rocky Mountain Sports Information departments
Additional Notes from Around NAIA Men’s Soccer
(Through games played on Aug. 31, 2016)
· Campbellsville (Ky.) currently boasts the longest active NAIA unbeaten streak at 17 matches (15-0-2). The Tigers capped off the 2015 season with a 2-2 draw in the NAIA National Championship Second Round. This year, they are 1-0 and next face Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) on Saturday. The last loss for Campbellsville occurred on Sept. 12, 2015 in a 4-1 road setback against Bethel (Ind.).
· Oklahoma Wesleyan is second in the NAIA with a current 16-match streak (15-0-1). Defending national champion Rio Grande (Ohio) is third with a 15 match-streak (15-0-0).
· With a 4-0-0 record, Menlo (Calif.) leads the NAIA in victories. It is the best start for the Oaks since they went 4-0-2 to begin the 2013 campaign.
· At this point in the year, 160 men’s soccer teams have played at least one game. There are 37 clubs that have yet to kick-off their season.
· In the preseason edition of the 2016 NAIA Men’s Soccer Coaches Top 25 Poll, defending national champion Rio Grande (Ohio) claimed the No. 1 ranking with all 18 first-place votes and 498 points. The RedStorm have now been ranked No. 1 for 56 overall weeks in program history. The first regular-season Top 25 installment will be announced Sept. 20. For the complete Top 25 release, click
here.
· The first regular-season NAIA National Player of the Week will be announced Sept. 6 and will run weekly through Nov. 8.
· Top 25 matchups this week:
o Monday – (21) Marymount (Calif.) def. (11) Biola (Calif.) 1-0
o Tuesday – (2) MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) def. (7) Columbia (Mo.) 3-0
o Tuesday – (25) Hastings (Neb.) def. (10) Baker (Kan.) 2-1
o Friday – (8) Rocky Mountain (Mont.) @ (14) Vanguard (Calif.)
o Friday – (17) Bellevue (Neb.) @ (18) Northwestern Ohio
o Saturday – (4) Lindenwood-Belleville (Ill.) @ (12) Campbellsville (Ky.)
o Saturday – (17) Bellevue (Neb.) vs (5) Davenport (Mich.)
o Saturday – (10) Baker (Kan.) @ (18) Northwestern Ohio
· Judson (Ill.) is No. 1 on the all-time NAIA winningest programs list with 657 victories. The Eagles began their program in 1967. Westmont (Calif.) is next on the list with 618 program wins. Click
HERE for a list of the all-time Top 25 wins.
· Steve Burke of Judson is tops on the all-time and active winningest coach lists with 537 career victories. Ray Wells of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is No. 2 on both lists with 502 wins.
· Coach Dave Wolf of Westmont is nearing the 300-win club. He currently stands 298-143-47 (as of Aug. 31) and can reach the milestone as early as Sept. 10.
· NAIA goals leader Mauricio Salgado of Trinity Christian (Ill.) already has amassed seven goals in four matches (1.75 average). His four-goal effort against USCAA member Andrews (Mich.) on Aug. 26 is a season highlight.
· For a complete list of the NAIA men’s soccer statistical leaders, click
here.
· For the third-straight year, the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship will take place at Hilltopper Stadium in Delray Beach, Fla. The 16-team, single-elimination event occurs Nov. 28 – Dec. 3. The bracket will be announced on Monday, Nov. 14. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission in conjunction with Keiser University (Fla.) will serve as the host. For more information, click
here.