No. 2 Redlands Bulldogs at No. 1 CMS Stags
Saturday, November 9, at 7 p.m.
After a 2-0 shutout over third-seeded Whittier College in Wednesday night's semifinal, the No. 2 University of Redlands men's soccer team advances to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament Championship at top-seeded No. 13/25 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday, November 9, at 7 p.m.
The winner of the SCIAC Postseason Tournament earns an automatic qualifier to the NCAA Division III Championships.
In the previous two meetings this season, neither of the teams were able to prevail with a victory. In the first matchup at Claremont, the teams went back and forth to a 2-2 draw, which was followed by a 0-0 stalemate three weeks later.
Redlands arrives at the championship game with an overall record of 10-4-3 and a SCIAC record of 8-2-2. Two rookie Bulldogs fueled Redlands to its semifinal victory over the Poets on Wednesday. First-year forward Ethan Kovach (Las Vegas, NV) converted the game-winner in the first half by maneuvering through several Whittier defenders to launch his shot to the upper-far post. In the second half, junior midfielder Derrin Valeri (Atlanta, GA) dished a well-placed through-ball for first-year midfielder Joseph Parra (West Covina, CA) to slam home for the insurance goal.
Entering the final, four different players own double-digit points this season paced by sophomore forward Steve Acuña (Pico Rivera, CA) with 19 points on six goals and seven helpers. Sophomore defender Peyton Menti (Seattle, WA) strengthens the backline and also provides offense with three goals and an assist. First-year goalkeeper Adrian Muñoz (Pasadena, CA) locks down the net with a 0.96 goals-against average and a .771 saves percentage.
As a team, the Bulldogs rank first in the SCIAC in goals (39), goals per game (2.29), assists (32), points (110), shot percentage (.137), and shots per game (16.8).
The Stags earned the right to host the final with a 13-3-2 overall record and a 9-1-2 mark in SCIAC action. CMS also managed a 2-0 shutout at home against the No. 4-seeded Occidental College Tigers on Wednesday. Scoreless through the first 45 minutes, the Stags gained momentum with two goals in less than four minutes from one another. Junior defender William Birchard (Tuscon, AZ) scored off of a free kick in the 56th minute, while sophomore forward Ethan Tyng (Santa Ynez, CA) scored from 18 yards out in the 60th for the insurance score.
CMS boasts the highest rated defense in the SCIAC with a conference-low 0.58 goals-against average and nine shutouts, led by the SCIAC Player of the Year, senior defender Adam Singer (San Francisco, CA). Singer also provided two goals, including a game-winner this season. Sophomore forward William Barton (Seattle, WA) and Tyng lead the offense with 17 and 16 points, respectively. Barton has posted seven goals and three assists, while Tyng also scored seven goals and two assists. With a dual-threat approach in goal, sophomore goalkeeper Eduardo De Anda leads CMS's tandem with a 0.67 goals-against average and a .825 save percentage.
Admission is free for any students or employees with a current SCIAC ID. General admission costs $10, while senior citizens, 55 and over, and military personnel with ID are $5. Children under 12 receive free admission
Fans not in attendance may follow the action via live stream and live stats through the SCIAC Portal.