Men's Soccer Set to Battle in NAIA Opening Round

LAKELAND, Fla.- For the second-consecutive season, the Southeastern University men's soccer team will compete in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Fire earned an at-large bid into the national tournament for the first time in program history. Southeastern will travel to Columbia, Ky. to play on Friday against John Brown University of Arkansas, with the winner playing the host Lindsey Wilson on Saturday.

GAMES:
NAIA Opening Round, Walter S. Reuling Stadium, Lindsey Wilson College
Friday, 4:00 p.m. vs. John Brown University Golden Eagles (17-3)
With a Win vs. JBU, Saturday, TBA at No. 5 Lindsey Wilson College Blue Raiders (13-3-1)

COVERAGE:
WATCH/LIVE STATS

FIRE FOCUS:

• The Fire are led offensively by graduate forward Jake Van Der Luit, who has netted 20 goals and registered eight assists on the season. With one more goal scored, Van Der Luit would tie the single-season program record for goals scored.
• Sophomore forward Julian Hall has netted three goals for SEU over his last two contests.
• Senior forward Craig Barker leads the team and is ranked 29^th in the NAIA in Total Assists with 10.
• As a team, SEU ranks 23^rd on the season with eight shutouts.
• Senior goalkeeper Logan Whitney has recorded five full-90 shutouts in goal this season for the Fire.
• Southeastern looks to earn its first NAIA National Tournament win since the 2015 season with a victory over John Brown.

THE GOLDEN EAGLES:

• John Brown earned its sixth all-time appearance in the NAIA National Tournament with a 1-0 win over Science & Arts in the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament Final.
• The Golden Eagles are looking to capture their first win on the national stage since 1993.
• JBU ranks second in the NAIA in Shots (22.4) and Shots on Goal (11.15) Per Game, as well as seventh in Goals Per Game (4.05) and Total Shutouts (11).
• The Golden Eagles feature the NAIA Point Leader in freshman forward Jacob Zamarron, who has netted 24 goals and registered nine assists for a total of 57 points.
• Freshman midfielder Oscar Carballo has netted 19 goals and recorded eight assists for the Golden Eagles this season.

THE BLUE RAIDERS:

• Lindsey Wilson earned an automatic berth to the national tournament after winning its 14^th Mid-South Conference Tournament Championship with a 1-0 win over Life University.
• The No. 5 nationally-seeded Blue Raiders will make their 26^th all-time national tournament appearance, where they have won nine national championships, the most recent of which was in 2011.
• Lindsey Wilson ranks eighth in the NAIA in Shots Per Game (19.47) and 29^th in Shots on Goal Per Game (8.76).
• Senior forward Akean Shackleford leads LWC in Goals Scored (20) and Assists (7). Shackleford ranks second in the NAIA in Goals Scored Per Game at 1.33.
• Six of the 12 goals that junior goalkeeper David Coffey has conceded on the season have occurred over his last six appearances in goal.

TALE OF THE TAPE:
SEU
Goals per Game: 2.9
Shots per Game: 17.4
Shots on Goal per Game: 8.5
Shutouts: 8
Individual Goals Leader: Jake Van Der Luit (20)
Individual Assists Leader: Craig Barker (10)
Individual Saves Leader:  Logan Whitney (59)
 
JBU
Goals per Game: 4.1
Shots per Game: 22.4
Shots on Goal per Game: 11.2
Shutouts: 11
Individual Goals Leader: Jacob Zamarron (24)
Individual Assists Leader: Amilcar Gonzalez (20)
Individual Saves Leader: Brett Wisener (38)

LWC
Goals per Game: 3.1
Shots per Game: 19.5
Shots on Goal per Game: 8.8
Shutouts: 5
Individual Goals Leader: Akean Shackleford (20)
Individual Assists Leader: Akean Shackleford (7)
Individual Saves Leader: David Coffey (60)

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