Barsi-Glah, a freshman forward from Liberia, played a part in each goal of the Rams’ 3-0 win over Lubbock Christian University (Texas). He netted two of the goals and assisted on the third to help HT advance to 2-0-1.

Sanchez, a junior goalkeeper from Houston, posted two shutouts for HT. In addition to blanking LCU, he also saved a 1-0 win over Schreiner College (Texas) for the Rams’ first two victories of the season.

Jose Cordova of LSU Shreveport was also nominated for this week’s offensive award, and Lance Quini of LSUS was a defensive nominee.

-RRAC-

Defending national champ Lindsey Wilson boasts the No. 1 spot

August 14, 2012

By Chad Waller, Director of Communications and Sports Information

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) will begin the 2012 campaign in a spot it has held for six-straight polls – the No. 1 position. The 2011 national champions gathered 529 total points and all 19 first-place votes in the 2012 NAIA Men’s Soccer Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll, the national office announced Tuesday.

National semifinalist Baker (Kan.) grabs the No. 2 spot with 510 points. Jumping up two spots is No. 3 Southern Poly (Ga.) with 489 points. No. 4 Rio Grande (Ohio) and No. 5 William Carey (Miss.) round out the top five with 479 and 465 points, respectively.

The top ranking is the 37th for Lindsey Wilson since 2000, which is now the most of any program. The Blue Raiders expect back a few key starters from a team that captured its ninth national championship. NAIA First Team All-American Lebogang Moloto finished his 2011 campaign with 11 goals and nine assists. Goaltender Yuta Nomra will look to add to his 14 shutouts from last year and a 0.51 goals against average. Lindsey Wilson finished the year with its first unblemished record since 1998 at 23-0-0.

The two newcomers to the poll are No. 20 Taylor (Ind.) and No. 24 Embry-Riddle (Fla.). Both programs were last ranked in the final 2011 regular-season poll on Nov. 13.

No. 9 Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) made the biggest shift up after a No. 19 ranking in the 2011 postseason poll.
 
The Southern States Athletic Conference leads all conferences/independents/unaffiliated groups with five teams in the Top 25: Southern Poly, William Carey, Auburn Montgomery, No. 12 Mobile (Ala.) and No. 17 Belhaven (Miss.). The Heart of America Athletic Conference placed a trio of ranked clubs in the poll.
 
The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the conference/independents/unaffiliated groups. The first regular-season poll will be announced on Sept. 4.
 
NOTES: (All information dates back to 2000) No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) breaks a tie with Rio Grande (Ohio) for the most all-time No. 1 rankings with 37, followed by Rio Grande (Ohio) at 36, Bethel (Tenn.) (11), Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) (9), Hastings (Neb.) (8), Azusa Pacific (Calif.) (5) and Concordia (Calif.) (5)… The Blue Raiders have now been at No. 1 in the preseason six times (2012, 2010, 2006, 2002, 2001, 2000)… Last year, there were 47 programs ranked in 13 polls and 14 of those teams held a spot each week… Rio Grande has been ranked in the top 10 for the last 37-straight polls, dating back to the start of the 2009 season… Overall, there have been 16 different teams to claim the No. 1 spot… Lindsey Wilson holds the distinction of being consecutively ranked the longest among active schools – 58-straight polls, dating back to the 2007 Preseason Top 25 Poll… Rio Grande is next in line with 52… Since 2000, two teams have rattled through the entire season ranked No. 1 – Bethel in 2009 and Rio Grande during the 2004 campaign.

Others receiving votes: Mount Mercy (Iowa) 100; Vanguard (Calif.) 83; MidAmerica Nazarene (Kan.) 52; Ashford (Iowa) 51; Texas at Brownsville 50; Menlo (Calif.) 38; The Master’s (Calif.) 34; Thomas (Ga.) 24; Tennessee Wesleyan 20; Lubbock Christian (Texas) 15; Cumberlands (Ky.) 14; Robert Morris (Ill.) 7; McPherson (Kan.) 4; Oklahoma Baptist 3.

^ Indicates the 2011 postseason poll announced on Dec. 6

-NAIA-

 The top-three seeds all survived in the first day of action at the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship, played at the Orange Beach Sportsplex. In Second Round action, defending national champion and top seed Hastings (Neb.) advanced to its third Quarterfinal round in the last four years. No. 2 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and No. 3 Baker (Kan.) are also headed to Wednesday action.

No. 4 Mobile (Ala.) tripped up against fellow Southern States Athletic Conference member and No. 13 William Carey (Miss.), 3-0. The Crusaders eliminated the Rams thanks to three second-half goals. These teams played to a 1-1 draw during the regular season on Oct. 18.

Hastings needed 80-plus minutes to survive against second-time qualifier Saint Xavier (Ill.). Dru Kobs notched the game-winner for the Broncos in the 81st minute and send his club to the Quarterfinals. The Broncos improved to 8-0-1 in championship play since 2009.

Lindsey Wilson used a goal in each half to take a 2-0 victory over No. 15 Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.). The Blue Raiders limited the Hannibal-LaGrange offense to four shots on goal. The win was the 42nd all-time for Lindsey Wilson in the National Championship. The Mid-South Conference member moved past Quincy (Ill.) for the most wins in the postseason.

In the only overtime match of the day, Baker out-lasted rookie qualifier Huston-Tillotson (Texas), 1-0. Nate Byarlay posted his second of the year in dramatic fashion with his netter in the 97th minute. That marker was Byarlay’s first since Sept. 16. The Wildcats, who are playing in their fifth playoff, are headed to the Quarterfinals for the first time in school history.

In three of the four matches, the score was tied 0-0 at the half. There were also three shutouts on the day.

Hosted by the Gulf Shores and Orange Beach Sports Commission and the University of Mobile (Ala.), the Championship continues with more Second Round action on Tuesday. No. 8 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) battles Science & Arts (Okla.) at Noon CST with the first of four matches on the day. Watch all the action live on NeuLion. NeuLion is the NAIA’s Digital Media Partner and official video-streaming company of 10 select NAIA National Championship events. The entire event can be purchased for $29.95 and any single day can be purchased for $9.95. For more information, go to www.WatchNAIA.com.

Second Round Recap: Monday, Nov. 28 – Orange Beach, Ala., Orange Beach Sportsplex
Game 1: No. 1 Hastings (Neb.) def. Saint Xavier (Ill.), 1-0 | Box Score
Headline – Kobs Sends Hastings to Quarterfinals With Game-Winner in 81st Minute

Game 2: No. 2 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) def. No. 15 Hannibal-LaGrange (Mo.), 2-0 | Box Score
Headline – Lindsey Wilson Sets All-Time Championship Wins Record

Game 3: No. 3 Baker (Kan.) def. Huston-Tillotson (Texas), 1-0 (OT) | Box Score
Headline – Wildcats Advance to First-Ever Quarterfinal

Game 4: No. 13 William Carey (Miss.) def. No. 4 Mobile (Ala.), 3-0 | Box Score
Headline – Three Second-Half Goals Lifts the Crusaders Past Mobile

Second Round Schedule: Tuesday, Nov. 29 – Orange Beach, Ala., Orange Beach Sportsplex
Game 5: No. 8 Azusa Pacific (Calif.) vs. Science & Arts (Okla.), Noon CST
Game 6: No. 7 Bethel (Tenn.) vs. No. 10 Southern Poly (Ga.), 2:30 p.m. CST
Game 7: No. 6 Grand View (Iowa) vs. Great Falls (Mont.), 5 p.m. CST
Game 8: No. 5 Rio Grande (Ohio) vs. No. 12 Belhaven (Miss.), 7:30 p.m. CST