Indiana Tech Advances to 2nd Round, Aquinas Bows Out of NAIA National Championship

Indiana Tech has once again advanced to the second round of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. The Warriors defeated Ottawa (Kan.) 1-0 on Thursday in Kentucky to earn the right to advanced to play host and #3 overall see Lindsey Wilson on Saturday afternoon. WHAC regular season champion Aquinas fell in their opening round match in heartbreaking fashion, falling in double overtime.

Indiana Tech 1, Ottawa (Kan.) 0

Stellar defense and a goal in the second half was the recipe for success for the Indiana Tech Warriors on Thursday afternoon in Kentucky. Indiana Tech allowed just three shots on frame all match, all saved by keeper David Martinez to post the clean sheet. The Warriors were limited in their shots, only firing six all game, three on frame, but that was enough as WHAC Midfielder of the Year Lucca Motta, scored the unassisted game winner in the 54th minute to punch his teams ticket to the second round. Awaiting them in the second round is site-host and #3 overall seed Lindsey Wilson. Saturday's game begins at 3 pm ET. Live video and live stats will be available. 

Tennessee Weslyan 4, Aquinas 3 (2OT)

A back-and-forth offensive battle broke out in Mishawaka, Ind. on Thursday afternoon. Tennessee Wesleyan jumped out to an early lead with a goal in the 2nd minute but Aquinas answered with a Jsenifemi Ojutalayo goal from Tevan Jones just moments later in the fourth minute. Not deterred, Tennessee Wesleyan regained the lead in the 12th minute and would hold on to it until the second half. Aquinas' Andrea Ghiggini scored unassisted in the 64th minute to tie it up 2-2 then he scored again in the 72nd minute to give the Saints a late 3-2 lead. It would not last as Tennessee Wesleyan added the equalizer in the 73rd minute to send it to overtime. With just 18 seconds remaining in the second overtime, Tennessee Wesleyan found the back of the net to stun Aquinas and end their postseason run. AQ finished 14-4-3 and went 8-1-2 en route to the program's first WHAC regular season championship since 2010. It was the team's third NAIA National Tournament appearance and the first since the 2012 campaign.