November 17, 2009

RedStorm to host Lindenwood in NAIA Tournament

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm men's soccer team will play host to Lindenwood University on Saturday afternoon in the NAIA Men's National Soccer Championship Opening Round at Evan Davis Field. Kick-off is set for 1 p.m.

Rio Grande (15-3-2) is the No. 3 seed in the tournament field, receiving one of six at-large berths for the 32-team field.

Rio Grande head coach Scott Morrissey is expecting a very tough game from the Lions. "Lindenwood comes in with a record of 9-9-3, they play in the Heart of America Conference, traditionally one of the top conferences in the country," he said. "Top to bottom you can take any of their first six teams and place them anywhere in the country and all going to be successful."

"I know Lindenwood struggled early on, however, you look at their results of late, they're really starting to play well," Morrissey added. "They're very well-coached, Carl Hutter's been there for a number of years; they were National Champions in 2004. They have a long standing tradition of playing a great schedule year in and year out, so those players are going to be battle-tested, they're going to be very well prepared."

"Even though it's a first round match-up, it's not a friendly match-up, and I don't think there are many friendly match-ups at this point," Morrissey said. "Lindenwood is going to be a very formidable opponent."

It is the ninth straight trip to the national tournament for Rio Grande while Lindenwood is making its first appearance since 2005. Both teams have had success in years past at the national tournament as Rio has a 13-6-1 record in NAIA play with one National Championship (2003), one national runner-up and three semifinal appearances. Lindenwood claimed the National Title in 2004 and posts a 7-4 all-time mark in tournament play.

Both teams play very strong schedules as well. "They're certainly no strangers to playing good competition," Morrissey said. "You look at their non-conference schedule and they've got (NCAA) Division II opponents on the schedule, Lindsey Wilson, and they traditionally always play a good schedule."

"Carl always puts his team in a position to be battle-tested," Morrissey added. "It won't be any different, throw the records out, it will be a great game on Saturday and we've got to show up and play well and execute because they'll give us everything they've got."

Rio is coming off a 3-1 loss in the semifinals of the Mid-South Conference while Lindenwood won the HAAC on penalty kicks after playing to a 2-2 tie with Missouri Valley College. 

Morrissey knows in the one and done scenario of the national tournament that no team can be taken lightly. "Now it takes on a much different tone, you lose now and you're finished," Morrissey said. "There's a different sense of urgency now."

This is the second year in a row that the RedStorm will host an opening round game. The RedStorm began their march to the NAIA Title Game last season with a 2-1 victory over Bethel (IN) at home.

Kick-off is set for 1 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults, $4 for students and the first 75 University of Rio Grande students will get in free of charge.

Stretch Internet will provide play-by-play coverage beginning at 12:55 p.m.