UTB-TSC Capsules: Scorpions soccer to play host to two NAIA opening-round games

The University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College will play host to Biola College (Calif.) in the first NAIA national men's soccer championship opening round game held in Brownsville on Saturday, Nov. 21, at REK Center Field.

The time of the game has yet to be determined, but a late afternoon or evening game is expected.

The Scorpions learned they received the No. 6 seed in the tournament. UTB-TSC is 17-0-1 and won the Red River Athletic Conference tournament championship Nov. 7 in Fort Worth.

The winner of Saturday's opening-round game advances to the 16-team NAIA national championship Nov. 30 through Dec. 5 in Fresno Calif. The winner will play the winner of the game between 11th-seeded Science and Arts of Oklahoma (17-1-1) and Hastings, Neb. (15-4-2) in a Sweet 16 matchup in Fresno, Calif.

UTB-TSC finished the regular season as the 14th-ranked team in the NAIA coaches top 25 poll, but received a higher seed because of a higher ranking in the Longo Rating System.

"I was a little surprised that we got a seed that high," Scorpions coach Dan Balaguero said. "But it's more important for us that we're playing at home, no matter who we play. We're hoping for a great crowd to get behind us because this will be the biggest game we've ever played in Brownsville."

Biola is located in Greater Los Angeles in the city of La Mirada, located just north of Anaheim. The Eagles, who finished the season 13-4-2, are members of the Golden State Athletic Conference. Biola, which finished the season 12th in the coaches top 25, lost in the GSAC championship game to The Master's College, 3-1. Six at-large teams who were not conference champions were selected to the 31-team NAIA field, and Biola was the last team to be selected.

"The GSAC is a tough conference," Balaguero said. "They beat Azusa Pacific twice in the regular season, so you know they have to be tough."

WOMEN'S SOCCER

Scorpions pick up home playoff game in surprise

UTB-TSC will play host to Southern Nazarene University (Okla.) in an NAIA women's soccer championship opening-round game Saturday, Nov. 21, at REK Center Field. Time of the game is yet to be announced.

The Scorpions (11-4-2) qualified for the national event by winning the Red River Athletic Conference championship Nov. 7 in Fort Worth. The news of a host opportunity for the Scorpions was an exciting one for the Scorpions, who were not ranked in the NAIA coaches top 25 poll throughout the season but had a good ranking in the Longo Rating System.  Southern Nazarene received 79 votes, equivalent to a No. 27 ranking, in the last coaches poll.

"Obviously, we're very excited to host the game," Scorpions coach Nik Barjaktarevic said. "It's a big advantage for us to play on our home field and not have to travel. We thought it would be a possibility and are really happy that it we got the home game."

The winner of Saturday's opening-round game will advance to the 16-team NAIA national championship Nov. 30 through Dec. 5 in Decatur, Ala.

"Southern Nazarene comes from a really tough conference and they have played a lot of top 25 teams," Barjaktarevic said. "They have played some tough competition. we're definitely be ready. I wish we could play tomorrow. It's going to be an amazing day and will be big bonus for us to play at home."

SNU is located in Bethany, Okla., a suburb of Oklahoma City. The Crimson Storm won the Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship 3-1 over Oklahoma City University. SNU finished the SAC regular season in a first-place tie with John Brown University.

Saturday's game will be a rematch of the 2007 NAIA Region VI playoff game between the two teams. SNU won that game 2-0.

The winner of the UTB-TSC-SNU game will play the winner of the game between top-seeded Lindsey Wilson (Ky.),  (17-1-1) and Missouri Baptist University (12-7-1) in a Sweet 16 matchup in Decatur, Ala.

WOMEN'S VOLLEYBALL

UTB-TSC secures bye for opening round

As expected, the University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College received a bye in the opening round of the NAIA national women's volleyball championship and will advance to the site of the finals Dec. 1 through 5 in Sioux City, Iowa.

The Scorpions, who finished the regular season ranked No. 9 in the nation, are 31-1 after winning the Red River Athletic Conference championship Saturday in Fort Worth.

Women's volleyball uses a different qualification plan to the national championship than soccer does. In volleyball, the top 12 seeds receive opening-round byes, and the remaining 24 teams have to play opening-round matches Nov. 21. The winners of those matches advance to the site of the finals, which includes 24 teams.

Other teams who received an opening round byes were: Azusa Pacific University (Calif.), Biola University (Calif.), California Baptist University, College of Idaho, Columbia College (Mo.), Concordia University (Calif.), Fresno Pacific University (Calif.), Georgetown College (Ky.), Northwestern College (Iowa), Olivet Nazarene University (Ill.),  and Vanguard University (Calif.).

At the national tournament, the 24 teams are divided into six pools for pool play during the first three days of tournament play. Final site pool assignments and schedule will be announced at 6 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 22.