NAIA Semifinals
Score: No. 6 Keiser 4 (No. 5 seed), No. 1 Central Methodist 1 (No. 1 seed)
Records: No. 6 Keiser (15-3-1), No. 1 Central Methodist (22-1-0)
Location: Jack Allen Soccer Complex, Decatur, Ala.
Behind goals from
Charlie Hennen,
Kael Richards and
Hannu Tam, the No. 6 Keiser men's soccer team rolled past No. 1 Central Methodist, 4-1, Saturday afternoon in the NAIA Semifinals.
With the win, Keiser punched its ticket to the NAIA National Championship Game for the first time in program history.
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- Keiser struck first in the NAIA Semifinals off a set piece in the 16th minute of action as Charlie Hennen found the back of the net for his first goal of the year.
- Jack Casey delivered the ball into the box and a pass off the head of Nick Akoto found the right foot of Hennen, who delivered a beautiful strike into the top right corner of the net.
- The Eagles answered in the 24th minute as Alessandro Salvadego knotted the score, 1-1, off of a cross that was deflected by Dario Salzer.
- In the 38th minute, the Seahawks responded as Kael Richards beat the CMU defense down the field and slid past the keeper to put Keiser back in front, 2-1.
- Dario Salzer set up the score with a strong boot just outside of the KU box that found a streaking Richards. The assist was Salzer's first of the season.
- The Seahawks looked to extend the lead in the 57th minute but back-to-back saves by Aaron Hoffman kept the score at 2-1 in favor of KU.
- In the 61st minute, Tam chipped the ball over the keeper's head off of a nice feed from Alvaro Jimenez Valera to push the Keiser lead to 3-1.
- Tam delivered the final nail in the coffin with his second goal of the contest in the 87th minute, as Keiser went on to defeat No. 1 Central Methodist 4-1.
- The victory punched the Seahawks ticket to the NAIA National Championship Game for the first time in program history.
- With the win, Keiser improved to 15-3-1 on the year.
- Saturday's contest marked the first meeting all-time between the Seahawks and Eagles.
- Keiser improves to 9-5-2 all-time in the NAIA National Tournament.
- Saturday's semifinal appearance was the first in program history for Keiser.
- With the game-winning goal, Kael Richards becomes the 11th different Seahawk to notch a game-winner in 2021 (Alexander Steen, Vincent Piwernetz, Julius Fassbinder, Lucas Jacobs [2], Rodrigo Montez Silva, Alvaro Jimenez Valera [3], Lucca Carvalho, Hannu Tam, Cristobal Molina Campo [2], Elias Jassim).
- Tam netted multiple goals for the second time this postseason.
- Salzer made four saves in goal for the Seahawks.
No. 6 Keiser
Shots: 12
Shots on Goal: 9
Corner Kicks: 2
Saves: 4
No. 1 Central Methodist
Shots: 20
Shots on Goal: 5
Corner Kicks: 7
Saves: 5
Keiser will face the winner of No. 4 Mobile and No. 10 Columbia Monday, Dec. 6 at 3:00 p.m. at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex in Decatur, Ala.
