NAIA CHAMPIONSHIPS BRACKET

OLATHE, Kan. – Well-executed set pieces in both halves sent MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) to the final site of the NAIA Men's Soccer Championships with a 2-0 second-round win over Southern Oregon on Saturday afternoon at Pioneer Field.

Minus their injured top scorer, Jony Munoz, the No. 14-seeded Pioneers (13-4-4) got two rare goals from Duarte Chapelas – the first when he headed in a Nicolas Theberge free kick in the 36th minute, and the second when he headed in a Theberge corner in the 80th. He'd scored two goals all season entering the match.

The Pioneers advanced to play No. 3 seed Grace (Ind.) in the Round of 16 on Nov. 28.

SOU (18-4), which was No. 20 in the final NAIA Top 25 coaches' poll, was their seventh ranked opponent of the fall. MNU was the Raiders' first.

They struggled to maintain possession and create chances against the international-laden roster, generating a season-low two shots on goal. MNU keeper Enzo Carvalho stopped them both off the feet of Alex Hjulmand and Sam Walker.

The Raiders had only been shut out once before getting blanked in both of their final two games.

They were making their third all-time appearance in the NAIA Championships, and it was the first for a group of 10 seniors. Five of them were in their fifth year with the team, including the top goal scorers in school history: Alan Gaytan and Adrian Villegas, who both finished their careers with 35.

Their final total of 18 victories was a team record. Since the core formed in 2019, they won 63 games.