REDLANDS, Calif. – The NCAA announced Monday that the University of Redlands men's soccer team will travel to Pacific Lutheran University in Tacoma, WA, to face Concordia University (TX) of the American Southwest Conference (ASC) in the first round of the NCAA Division III Championships on Saturday, November 13, at 3:30 p.m. PT. The winner of the Redlands-Concordia match will play the winner of the Pacific Lutheran (NWC Champion)-Trinity (TX) (SCAC Champion) game in the second round in Tacoma on Sunday.
Fans may follow along with the action via live stats and live streaming by logging onto:
Livestats - https://golutes.com/sidearmstats/msoc/summary
Livestream – https://nwcnetwork.tv/golutes/
The University of Redlands and Concordia University punched their respective tickets to the tournament as two of 43 teams to receive the automatic qualification out of their respective conferences.
To view the complete NCAA bracket, please visit: https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/soccer-men/d3/2021
The Field
Pacific Lutheran University
While serving as host, the four-time Northwest Conference Champion Lutes boast a 14-5, 11-3 SCIAC record. This is the fourth trip to the NCAA Division III Championships for the Lutes, previously making appearances during the 2019, 2018, and 2011 seasons. They are a tough squad to beat on the turf at East Field, boasting a 41-13-6 record at home since 2015.
They come into the sectionals with a 1-0 loss to Puget Sound, which came in the Northwest Conference Championship game. They average 2.89 goals per game, taking 302 shots, averaging 15.9 shots per game and a .182 shot percentage. Defensively they are holding opponents to 0.53 goals per game, a mere 8.2 shots per game and a .064 shot percentage. Craig Johnson is who the Lutes rely on with 21 points, posting seven goals, and seven assists, while shooting .159. Cris Lozano provided a seven goal, five assist effort on the season and Archie Caldwell added five tallies and five assists. In goal, PLU has Nicholas Gaston who has played 16 games allowing just 10 goals, a 0.71 goals against average, coupled with 42 saves and a .808 save percentage.
Trinity (TX)
The Tigers have been on a tear this season posting a 16-1-1, 8-0-1 SCAC record and they currently sit No. 1 in the Division III West Regional rankings and No. 2 in the Division III National Rankings. Their one loss on the season came against St. Thomas (TX), where they fell 1-0.
They started the season outside looking in at the United Soccer Coaches Poll, but quickly moved into the Top 5, but have beaten some of the toughest teams in the country en route to not losing a regular season match.
Fraser Burns is their best player ranking as one of the Top 30 in the nation with .57 assists per match. Trinity goalkeeper Juan Carlos Vidales is 16th in Division III with a .470 goals against average. As a team, the Tigers are averaging 3.11 assists per match, which is fifth in the nation. Trinity is also very precise with the shots they take, the Tigers are averaging 9.62 shots on frame per match.
University of Redlands
The Bulldogs come into the NCAA Division III National Championships with a 15-2-1, 9-2-1 SCIAC record with seven shutouts and earn a berth into the Championships for the 12th time since 2001. They went through the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (SCIAC) Championships beating No. 3 California Lutheran University (2-0) and then No. 1 Claremont-Mudd-Scripps (2-1). They have now won five conference tournament titles and currently hold a six game-winning streak dating back to October 13 when they fell 5-4 to Chapman University.
The Maroon and Grey have scored 48 goals on the season, averaging 2.67 goals per game, 16.8 shots per game and a .158 shot percentage. Against opponents they are allowing a 1.04 goals against average and a .091 shot percentage.
Six Bulldogs earned All-SCIAC recognition led by Arian Mogharei who was a 1st Teamer and the SCIAC Defensive Athlete of the Year. He was joined on the 1st Team by Mikey Flota, Steve Acuña, Collin ChubbFertal, and Ethan Kovach. On the 2nd Team was Peyton Menti who makes three defenders earning All-SCIAC.
ChubbFertal leads the offense with 13 goals scored, six of which were game winners. He has 26 points on the season, has taken 41 shots for a .317 shot percentage. Quinn Richards, who plays big minutes off the bench is second on the team with five goals and three assists, while Kovach comes in with four goals and six assists for 14 points. Mogharei anchors the defense, but has also provided a spark on offense with four goals and three assists. He holds that backline of Matt Beasley, Menti, and Flota. Between the posts Seth Lawrence has been a mainstay playing all 90:00 minutes five of the last six games. He has 42 saves on the season, is 10-1-1 with an .824 save percentage, and allowing a 0.80 goals against average.
Concordia University (TX)
The Tornados come into the sectional with a 10-4-5, 7-1-2 (ASC) record after going through their conference tournament beating Belhaven (MA) T, 1-1; 6-5 PK's), UT Dallas (1-0), and Hardin-Simmons (T, 1-1; 4-3 PK's). They are coming off their first ever conference championship in program history and earn their first trip to the NCAA Division III National Championships.
They average 2.32 goals per game, with 40 assists, 354 shots and a .124 shot percentage. Defensively they are holding opponents to a 0.89 goals against average and a 0.081 shot percentage. They are led by Marco Vazquez who was twice named the ASC Offensive Player of the Week. On the season he has 11 goals and four assists with 26 points and shooting .190. Melvin Molina is second on the team in goals with six, but has nine assists, while taking 65 shots. Defensively, Joshua Redding has been the anchor between the posts allowing 14 goals on the season, a 0.84 goals against average, 70 saves, and a .797 save percentage.