While competing in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Postseason Tournament Championship game for the second-consecutive season, the No. 25 University of Redlands men's soccer team battled it out against the third-seeded University of La Verne Leopards on Saturday evening on Farquhar Field. As the Bulldogs displayed the ultimate team effort and chemistry on the pitch, they netted two, second-half goals to earn a 2-1 championship victory and the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Championships.

The is the Maroon and Gray's first double championship since 2008, when the squad last won the regular-season title and prevailed in the SCIAC Postseason Tournament in the same season.

Earlier tonight, the Bulldogs and Leopards played neck-and-neck in the opening frame, with both squads notching quality scoring opportunities to put pressure on the defensive backlines. But each held strong to keep the game scoreless, as the Bulldogs launched off six shots to the Leopards' four in the opening 45 minutes of play.

The Bulldogs charged out of the gates on a mission in the second half, immediately creating offensive chances while possessing the ball well. In the 49th minute, freshman Kayvon Parsa (West Hills, CA) corralled the ball on the near flank and gently lofted a money-pass to sophomore forward Chase Boone (Beaverton, OR), who promptly banged in a header far-post for the Bulldogs' 1-0 lead.

However, the Leopards looked to counter quickly – something that they attempted to capitalize on throughout the contest. In the 71st minute, their efforts paid dividends, as junior forward Nathan Gonzalez (Corona, CA) took control off his own deflected shot, dribbled past two defenders, and fired off the equalizing goal.

However, the Bulldogs remained relentless in the latter portion of the game while staying true to their game plan with great composure.

In the 79th minute, the Bulldogs displayed incredibly technical soccer to create the eventual game-winning score. After numerous links that featured sophomore midfielder Casey ChubbFertal (Eugene, OR), Boone and Parsa, freshman midfielder Jesus Avalos (La Quinta, CA) had the most impressive pass of all by locating sophomore midfielder Sergio Valencia (San Jose, CA) in minimal space, who half-volleyed it out of the air into the lower-right corner for the critical goal.

Once again, La Verne worked to answer immediately, as junior forward Saul Uribe (Bell Gardens, CA) headed off a dangerously close shot, forcing sophomore goalkeeper Josh Haskill (Lakewood, CA) to make a huge, fingertip save for the Maroon and Gray.

But Redlands squashed any late comeback efforts by the Leopards while working extremely hard to possess the ball in the final 15 minutes.

Overall, the Bulldogs performed all aspects of their game exceptionally well in the victory, including phenomenal efforts from the defensive brigade of junior Tom Elsea (Mission Viejo, CA), junior Colin Zaccagnio (Phoenix, AZ), junior Austin Moore (Las Vegas, NV), and sophomore Keoni Yates (Kailua-Kona, HI). The midfield play of ChubbFertal was on point throughout the game as well.

Haskill earned his 11th win of the year after issuing great communication to his teammates and making four saves on the night.

With tonight's win, the Bulldogs earn the automatic bid and advance to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship for the first time since 2011. Additional details about Redlands' first-round match will be announced on Monday by the NCAA.