Men's Soccer bound for Orlando

Seeded 8th, SAGU faces #1 on Wed.

All games available free on livestream video

WAXAHACHIE, Texas -- After winning their first-ever Central Regional Championship in the National Christian College Athletic Association, the surprising Southwestern Assemblies of God University men’s soccer team felt like they did a week ago. Like Rodney Dangerfield again, they must earn respect on the big stage.

As the #6 seed in the six-team regional field, they pulled off a trio of upsets, all against teams they couldn’t defeat during the regular season. They faced long odds, and overcame them all, outscoring their enemy 9-2 in the process.

Facing a similar path against even tougher foes, they enter the NCCAA Nationals in Orlando this week. The November 30-through-December 3 has seven regional champs and one at-large qualifier. Need to ask who is seeded last?

SAGU, at 10-7-4, will meet the #1 seed, California Baptist University (15-5-0), on Wednesday at 5:00pm. Each of the matches will played at the Austin-Tindall Park in Kissimmee, Fla.

All of the 2011 Men’s Soccer Championship contests will be available at NO CHARGE via GPSN Online (www.gpsnonline.com). Once established, the links for these contests will be available via the NCCAA website at www.thenccaa.org.

The tournament field includes the following teams and their won-lost-tied records:
#1 California Baptist University (West Region Champion) 15-5-0
#2 Palm Beach Atlantic University (South Region Champion) 12-7-0
#3 Judson University (North Central Region Champion) 13-8-1
#4 Cedarville University (Midwest Region Champion) 13-6-1
#5 Oakland City University (Mideast Region Champion) 11-5-1
#6 Grace College (At-Large Selection) 10-7-4
#7 Geneva College (East Region Champion) 14-5-3
#8 Southwestern Assemblies of God University (Central Region Champion) 10-7-4

An interview with the Lions senior team caption, Sam Cabrera, will be posted on the eve of their quarter-final clash with CBU. The Lancers outscored their opponents this season, 42-16, including eight shutouts. SAGU owns a 44-36 scoring margin against their foes.

Contact: Mark “Link” Warde, Sports Information Director, at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 469-658-2847.