Kissimmee, FL – Carolina University and Judson University will collide in the NCCAA DI Men's Soccer National Championship match after some late heroics from both sides in penalty kicks. Judson returns to the title match for the first time since 2021 while Carolina has earned a bid to the championship for the first time in program history. The title game is set to kick-off at 6 p.m. ET on Saturday, December 7 back at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex Stadium Field. 
 
#1 Trinity Christian College 2, #4 Judson University 2 (Judson advances 5-3 on PK's)

• In the first semifinal, Trinity Christian College and Judson University met for the third time on the season as the two North Central Region opponents from Illinois bid for a National Championship match appearance. In the first 25 minutes of play neither side could find much of an opportunity as only five shots combined were recorded and only one needed a save.
• In the 32nd minute the Eagles were able to break through to take a 1-0 lead. Samuel Chavez stayed just onside and was able to chip the ball over the keeper to find an open net and score off an assist from Ovidio Paez. 
• Judson continued on the attack and would find a second goal in the 36th minute. Ovidio Paez again hit the open man in Gabriel Trevisan who found the bottom corner to make the Eagles lead 2-0. 
• Judson's two late second half goals gave them a 2-0 advantage at the break. 
• The game would get much more physical to start the second half between the two Illinois rivals. Seven fouls would be called in the first 15 minutes. 
• Trinity Christian was able to find the scoreline in the 64th minute to cut their deficit in half on a J.P. Quaresma goal. Quaresma was given the golden opportunity on a beautiful flick-on from Ivan Perez to bring the score to 2-1. 
• The Trolls continued to put offensive pressure on late in the second half, but were forced to play the last 12 and a half minutes down a man after a second yellow card on a hard challenge near the corner flag. 
• Despite being down a man, Trinity Christian would find late heroics from Rafael Torres putting away a ball loose in the box off a free kick to tie the game at two in the 86th minute.
• In the two overtime periods each side had one quality chance to win it. Judson put the ball in the net but it was called back for offsides in the first overtime. Trinity Christian saw a shot from just inside the six go high in the second overtime forcing penalty kicks. 
• In the penalty kick shootout, Ivan Dominguez would make a crucial save for Judson University to allow Gabriel Uno to step to the spot with a chance to win it. Uno would do just that with a shot that hit the crossbar and bounced down just over the line. The Eagles would advance to the title match 5-3 in penalty kicks. 

 
#2 Southwestern Christian University 1, #3 Carolina University 1 (Carolina advances 5-4 on PK's)

• Carolina University wasted no time finding the net, scoring just 24 seconds in after all the fireworks from the match prior. Luke Spillane-Davis got behind the defense and finished a ball off a beautiful pass from teammate Nathan Rue. 
• After the goal, the Southwestern Christian defense would settle in allowing just one more shot the remainder of the first half. 
• The Eagles could not muster much on the offensive end either, as their best chance came off a corner that had to be cleared off the line with 16 minutes to play in the half. 
• At the half Carolina held a 1-0 advantage despite Southwestern Christian outshooting the Bruins 4-to-2 in the period. 
• The Eagles continued to see more of the offensive chances to start the second half. Southwestern Christian recorded two shots in the first six minutes with one blocked by the Carolina defense and the other saved by keeper Joshua Wilson. 
• Nathan Rue of the Bruins would see a quality opportunity in the 61st minute but the outside of the left foot shot would miss just wide to keep the Carolina lead at one. 
• Southwestern Christian finally found a way through the Carolina backline in the 80th minute. Teejay Chiororo was able to dribble around a few Bruin defenders and send a ball across the box that was finished by Steven Lagurre to tie the game at one. 
• Neither side could find the goal needed in regulation, forcing this semifinal to also go to overtime. 
• Carolina started to run out of gas in the first overtime allowing Southwestern Christian four shots in the 10 minute frame. Joshua Wilson made two big saves to keep it tied and force a second OT. 
• In the second overtime Carolina would see a second yellow forcing them to play a man down for the final two and a half minutes. The Bruins would survive the final stretch to force penalty kicks. 
• In penalty kicks, Joshua Wilson was the hero for Carolina University making two stops to give them the 5-4 win and secure their first ever trip to the NCCAA DI Men's Soccer National Championship match. 

The NCCAA DI Men's Soccer National Championship match will be played tomorrow at 6 p.m. ET at the Austin-Tindall Sports Complex Stadium between #3 Carolina University and #4 Judson University. Full results and a schedule of the matches can be found here.
 
About the NCCAA
Established in 1968, the National Christian College Athletic Association uses intercollegiate athletics to further the Great Commission and is committed to equipping student-athletes and coaches to make a positive impact for Christ. The NCCAA currently holds 23 national championship events, along with two national invitationals for 92 member schools across 28 states and two Canadian provinces. For more information on the NCCAA, visit our website, thenccaa.org, and follow us on Facebook, Twitter/X, and Instagram at @thenccaa.