No. 19 Men’s Soccer to take on No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene in the NAIA National Championship Game

WICHITA, Kan. (December 3, 2023) – The No. 19 Milligan University men's soccer team will take on No. 18 MidAmerica Nazarene in the 2023 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Game on Monday at 3:00 p.m. (EST) at the Scheels Stryker Sports Complex.

WATCH on ESPN+ | NAIA National Championship Bracket

In the first season under head coach Paddy Sweeney, the Buffs made the title game with a 19-2-4 record and a 21-game unbeaten streak dating back to the first weekend in September. The Buffs captured the Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) regular season and tournament titles. MNU enters the matchup with a 16-4-4 record finished as the Heart of America Athletic Conference (HAAC) Tournament runner-up.

Both teams dispatched three top-10 opponents in the national tournament on their way to the title game. The Buffs won at No. 10 William Carey 2-0 in the opening round, advanced past No. 6 Mobile 1-1 (4-2 PK) in the round of 16 and No. 3 St. Thomas 1-0 (2OT) in the national semifinals. The Pioneers took down No. 5 Grace 3-2 in the round of 16, knocked out defending national champion No. 9 Bethel (2-0) in the quarterfinals and toppled Oklahoma Wesleyan 1-0 (2OT) in the semifinals.

With Milligan's victory over St. Thomas in the national semifinals, the Buffs set their single-season program record with 19 victories. The Buffs have established team records for goals (89), assists (81) and shutouts (15) in 2023. Heading into the national title game, Milligan leads the NAIA in shutouts, corner kicks (172) and ranks second in the country in goals and assists.

Graduate student Inaki Moreno was honored as the AAC Player of the Year and leads the nation with 30 assists and ranks second in the country with 58 points. Graduate Santiago Corral ranks seventh in the NAIA with 18 goals, including four postseason tallies.

Freshman goalkeeper Adria Alles and the Milligan defense have notched five shutouts in seven conference and national tournament games. Against Mobile, Alles made a pair of stops in the penalty kick shootout to help the Buffs knock out the two-time defending national runners-up. Alles ranks third in the nation in save percentage (.844), sixth in goals against average (0.59) and eighth in wins (13).

Milligan will make its first-ever appearance in a national championship game in a head-to-head team sport. The championship game will be streamed live on ESPN+.