December 4, 2009

Rio soccer returns to NAIA Semifinals

Rio Grande --- The University of Rio Grande RedStorm men's soccer team will make its fourth appearance in the NAIA National Tournament semifinals tonight versus The Master's College (CA) at Ramirez Field in Fresno, CA. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST. 

Rio Grande (18-3-2), the No. 3 seed in this year's tournament, is 2-1 in national semifinal games, defeating Mount Vernon Nazarene 1-0 last year and Hastings by the same score in the National Championship season of 2003. Rio lost in the semi's to Lindsey Wilson in 2001 (Rio's first appearance at the national tournament) by a score of 2-1. 

Rio advanced to the Final Four by knocking Lindenwood (MO) in the opening round to reach the final site and then bounced Columbia in the second round before blitzing Biola on Wednesday by a 4-nil count in the quarterfinals. 

Rio Grande is now 16-6-1 in NAIA Tournament play. 

The Master's (19-2-2), the No. 15 seed, is making its first ever national semifinal appearance. The Mustangs have been impressive in ousting Holy Names (opening round), Indiana Tech and No. 7 seed Notre Dame College, the American Mideast Conference champion. 

The Master's is 6-1-2 all-time in tournament play. 

In the other semifinal, No. 1 seed and Mid-South Conference champion Lindsey Wilson will battle No. 5 seed Simon Fraser at 5 p.m. EST. 

The winners advance to Saturday's National Championship game, which will kick-off at 6 p.m. 

The Rio game can be seen on RGCA TV 15.