OKWU RECAP
On Monday night May 10th, the Oklahoma Wesleyan University Eagles would see their first NAIA National Championship appearance in program history. The #2 seeded Eagles would face the #4 seeded Missouri Valley College Vikings. These two teams are no strangers to one another as there is a little bit of a rivalry. Since 2014, OKWU is 5-0-1 when facing Missouri Valley. The rivalry would add another chapter with this National Championship matchup but what would it hold- OKWU taking another victory or would the Vikings snap the losing streak against OKWU on the biggest stage?
Both teams come into the game looking to secure their first national championship in school history. Missouri Valley went on the attack early in the game due to a few early turnovers from the Eagles. Both teams would eventually find their tempo and settle into the game and start to create good scoring chances. The first half was evenly matched, until a goal scored for the Vikings by Kainan Dos Santos with only 6 minutes left in the half. At the half the Viking would lead the 1-0, outshooting the Eagles 13-6 (6-3 SOG), while the Eagles would lead in corner kick opportunities 2-0.
Coming out of the half, the Eagles were eager to find an equalizing goal to get back into the match. The Eagles would attack early and aggressively to try and get the equalizing goal. Throughout the half, both teams were creating scoring chances. The Vikings would eventually get a penalty kick with 13 minutes left in the game to try and give themselves the go-ahead goal. The penalty kick would be saved by Alex Vidizzoni and the Eagles would look to capitalize on the missed opportunity by the Vikings. The Eagles would push forward every chance they got and would get a few good looks on goal; however, they could not convert those chances. The Vikings would go on to score with only 4 minutes left in the game with a second goal from Kainan Dos Santos. Overall the Eagles would outshoot the Viking 20-19 (7-11 SOG), however the Vikings keeper was just able to stop everything that came his way. For the keepers, Vidizzoni's final line was 2 GA with 9 saves, while Missouri Valley's Dusan Milosevic did not allow a goal and had 7 saves.
The game would end with the Missouri Valley College Vikings winning their first men's soccer national championship in school history. The Eagles would be shut out for just the second time in the season. The 2020 Eagles finish their season as the first ever team to make the National Title match in program history. The Eagles also finished the season as KCAC regular season and tournament champions with a record 21-3-1, 11-0 in conference play.
More on the Eagles season to come.
NAIA RECAP
2020 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship – Championship Game Recap
Missouri Valley wins 2020 Men's Soccer National Championship
FINAL SCORE
No. 4 Missouri Valley (18-4-2) def. No. 2 Oklahoma Wesleyan (21-3-1), 2-0. | Box Score
Missouri Valley wins 2020 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship.
GAME NOTES/HIGHLIGHTS
- Kainan Dos Santos scored the first goal of the match unassisted late in the 38th minute.
- Dos Santos scored again in the 86th minute, assisted by Paulo Alves and Aleksander Trujic.
- This is the first time Oklahoma Wesleyan has seen championship play.
- Missouri Valley has advanced to the championship three times in four years.
- Vikings' Gianmarco Doninini was awarded 2020 NAIA Outstanding Defensive Player Award.
- Dos Santos was named the 2020 NAIA Offensive Player Award.
- The 2020 Most Valuable Player Award was presented to Luka Gluscevic.
- Three Oklahoma Wesleyan athletes were awarded with All-Tournament Team honors.
- Four Missouri Valley athletes were presented with All-Tournament Team honors.
- Missouri Valley secured first NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship win.
