The No. 6-ranked Keiser men's soccer team (14-3-1) will take on the No. 1-ranked Central Methodist Eagles (22-0-0) in the semifinals of the the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship on Saturday, December 4. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m. from the Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Alabama.
No. 6 Keiser Seahawks (14-3-1 - No. 5 seed) vs.
No. 1 Central Methodist Eagles (22-0-0 - No. 1 seed)
Saturday, December 4, 2021 - 2:00 PM
Jack Allen Soccer Complex (Decatur, Ala.)
NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Semifinals
WATCH: The NAIA Digital Network ($$)
LIVE STATS: SIDEARM
ADMISSION: Buy Tickets
- Saturday marks the first meeting all-time between Keiser and Central Methodist.
- The Eagles are the second "first-time" opponent for the Seahawks this season (Dalton State - W, 3-0 on November 20, 2021 - NAIA Opening Round).
- Keiser enters Saturday with an 8-5-2 record all-time in the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
- CMU is just the second team from the state of Missouri to face Keiser in program history. Missouri Valley College is the other (1-0-1).
- The winner of this contest will advance to the National Championship Game and take on the winner of Mobile (Ala.) versus Columbia (Mo.).
- The Seahawks will look to improve to 15-3-1 in on the year.
- Keiser is the No. 5 seed in the Final Site Bracket.
- Saturday's appearance in the NAIA Semifinals will be the program's first.
- On the year, KU has had 10 different players score the game-winning goal (Elias Jassim, Alexander Steen, Vincent Piwernetz, Julius Fassbinder, Lucas Jacobs [2], Rodrigo Montez Silva, Alvaro Jimenez Valera [3], Lucca Carvalho, Hannu Tam, Cristobal Molina Campo [2]).
- Of the 24-man travel party for this week's NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship, 21 Seahawks have registered at least one point this season.
- The Keiser men's soccer program has played 14 matches in the state of Alabama all-time, posting a record of 7-6-1. This year, the Seahawks are 3-0-0 in games played in Alabama.
- The Seahawks defeated the No. 7-ranked Missouri Valley Vikings, 3-1, on Thursday, December 2, to advance to Saturday's semis.
- The Keiser men's soccer coaching staff was named the South Regional Staff of the Year by the United Soccer Coaches College Service program on Monday.
- Central Methodist enters Saturday with a 22-0-0 record. No. 1-ranked team in the nation blanked the MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers, 2-0, on December 2, to advance to the semifinals.
| Keiser |
2021 Stats |
Central Methodist |
| 44 (2.44) |
Goals |
85 (3.86) |
| 41 (2.28) |
Assists |
57 (2.59) |
| 375 (20.8) |
Shots |
480 (21.8) |
| 174 (9.6) |
SOG |
235 (10.7) |
| 148 (8.2) |
Corners |
157 (7.1) |
| 47 (2.6) |
Saves |
50 (2.3) |
|
Leaders |
|
| Two players (7) |
Goals |
Alessandro Salvadego (22) |
| Lucas Jacobs (6) |
Assists |
Two players (8) |
| Alvaro Jimenez Valera (64) |
Shots |
Alessandro Salvadego (85) |
| Alvaro Jimenez Valera (32) |
SOG |
Alessandro Salvadego (42) |
| N/A |
Corners |
N/A |
| Dario Salzer (24) |
Saves |
Stefano Camerlengo (42) |
