MidAmerica Nazarene Pioneers to play for NAIA national title in men’s soccer Monday

MidAmerica Nazarene will play for a national championship in men’s soccer on Monday in Wichita.

The Pioneers (16-4-4) punched their ticket to the title match in overtime Saturday, beating Oklahoma Wesleyan 1-0 in the NAIA Men’s Soccer Championship semifinals at Wichita’s Stryker Sports Complex.

MNU’s Antonio Mugica, from Spain, scored the decisive goal on Saturday, sticking a beautiful left-footed shot from distance into the back of the net in the 95th minute.

Oklahoma Wesleyan’s season came to a close at 17-2-5.

MNU beat Bethel University of Mishawaka, Indiana 2-0 in Thursday’s quarterfinals. Junior forward Rick Hovinga, from Groningen, Netherlands, scored both goals.

The first came in the 30th minute off an assist by French native Tom Chartier. Hovinga scored his second goal in the 90th, this time assisted by Jony Munoz, formerly of UMKC.

Now the Pioneers from Olathe will play Milligan (Tenn.) College in Monday’s 2 p.m. match for the championship at the Stryker complex.

Milligan advanced to the title game with a 1-0 victory of its own, beating St. Thomas in Saturday’s semifinals at Stryker.