Columbia, Mo. - The Columbia Cougar men's soccer team will host the Ashford University Saints in the 2015 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round according to the release today by the NAIA National Office. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 21^st at R. Marvin Owens Field.

Columbia earned an automatic bid after finishing as the American Midwest Conference (AMC) regular season champions, posting a perfect 11-0 record. The Cougars dropped a close match to visiting Lindenwood University-Belleville 1-0 in overtime last Tuesday night in the semifinal round of the American Midwest Conference (AMC) Postseason Tournament. Columbia fell to 17-3 on the year with the defeat and also had their 14 game winning streak snapped. In the final NAIA Top 25 Poll of the regular season, the Cougars dropped two spots to No. 11 and are the No. 14 seed in the 32-team NAIA National Championships.

Columbia has had several key contributors this season, earning six individual first team all-conference selections including Mitchell Conning, Vadim Cojocov, Edin Campara, Matija Ceraj, Akhil Noel, and Iain McTurk. Head Coach, John Klein was also named AMC Coach of the Year.

Conning leads the Cougars with 11 goals and 26 shots-on-goal so far this season. He ranks fourth in the NAIA with six total game winning goals and is seventh in game winning goals per game (0.3). Mitchell was also named AMC Men's Offensive Player of the Week earlier this season and was coined AMC Newcomer and Player of the Year.

Vadim Cojocov has posted 9 goals during the 2015 campaign while Nic Powers and Edin Campara lead the team with six assists apiece. Ceraj and Noel have been key members of the back line that has allowed less than one goal a game on average (0.9). Junior Iain McTurk was the all-conference pick at goalkeeper after totaling 69 saves against just 11 goals allowed this season for a 0.863 save percentage. As a team, Columbia has allowed just 15 goals on the year and recorded ten shutouts.

The Saints (12-5-1) earned a bid to the national play-off after capturing their first ever Association of Independent Institutions Conference championship in the most dramatic way possible against Mount Mercy University. The game ended in a penalty shootout after regulation and two overtime periods produced a 1-1 tie.

Senior Adam Wood leads the Saints with 16 goals and nine assists on the season, earning AII Conference Player of the Year and first team all-conference honors. He also ranks number one in the entire nation for game winning goals scored with 8. Wood was joined by four fellow Saints on A.I.I All Conference teams.  Paul Ledsham, Casey Culver, Daniel Collins, and Joel Harrysson were also recognized for their quality performance on the year.
Sophomore goalkeeper Joel Harrysson was honored as a Second Team All-Conference goalie. Harrysson only allowed 20 goals on the season, and recorded a staggering 50 saves in his first year as the Saints guardian of the goal. 
Saturday's game will have live video, audio, and stats webcasted on columbiacougars.com. The link can be found on the Cougar men's soccer schedule and website front page.

The 2015 Opening Round winners will advance to the national championship final site in Delray Beach, Fla. Action at the Seacrest Soccer Complex runs Nov. 30 – Dec. 5.

The NAIA Network – the association's official video streaming home – will broadcast all 15 matches live at the 2015 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship final site in Orange Beach, Ala. The video platform, powered by Stretch Internet, allows users access to live video, statistics, and social interaction on a number of devices, including mobile. Single day passes can be purchased for $9.95, while an all-championship package is available at $29.95. For more information and the pre-register, click here.

For more information on the 2015 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round and final site, click here.