KISSIMMEE, Fla. – The Roberts Wesleyan University men's soccer team will play for the National Christian College Athletic Association Division I national championship.
Senior midfielder Ollie Ardle, who entered the game with two goals on the season, scored twice in the first 15 minutes to spark the Redhawks to a 5-2 win over Southwestern Christian University of Bethany, Okla., at the Austin-Trindall Sports Complex on Friday night.
Senior Dylan Ruiz added a goal and two assists and Tamas Nagy and Luis Cataldi Milan also found the back of the net for Roberts.
"The guys have been fighting hard all year," Roberts coach Scott Reber said. "Every game has been a challenge and the guys have elevated their game and met each challenge. I am really happy for the guys and this is a well-deserved win. We are going to enjoy this win tonight and then its back to work tomorrow."
The second-seeded Redhawks (11-4-6) will play No. 4 Columbia International University, which rallied from three goals down to defeat top-seeded and reigning NCAA champion Campbellsville University 4-3 in two overtimes in Friday's other semifinal, at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday.
Ardle opened the scoring in the eighth minute, taking a feed from Ruiz at the top of the box and finishing with a left-footed shot.
Ardle's second goal came seconds after Southwestern Christian went a man down. Roberts' midfielder Tamas Nagy had an open net in front of him when he was taken down just outside the box with 21:31 remaining in the first half.
"Ollie really had a great game today," Reber said. "Getting those two goals in the first half was huge, I am really happy for him."
Alex Perez Vega placed the ensuing free kick on frame and Ruiz corralled the rebound on the goal line and touched it to Ardle in front for the tap-in.
Vega sent a beautiful service ball to the 6-yard line where Ruiz ran onto it and headed it home for a 3-0 lead on his 16^th goal of the season in the 32^nd minute. The goal was the 66^th of Ruiz's record-breaking career at Roberts.
Nagy registered his 16^th of the season on a fantastic individual effort in the 73^rd minute. Ruiz headed a ball into the box that was corralled by Nagy, who was surrounded by three defenders but used dazzling footwork to create space and launch a 15-yard shot into the left corner of the net.
Cataldi Milan collected his first strike as a Redhawk 34 seconds later off a perfectly placed cross from freshman Micah Cornfield.
Southwestern Christian's first goal came on a penalty kick by Teejay Chiroro in the 56^th minute and the second was scored on a 20-yard direct kick by Harris Tompkins in the 79^th minute.
Roberts has never won an NCCAA title, but has finished second twice. This will be the Redhawks first appearance in the championship game since falling to Indiana Wesleyan in 2008.
"CIU is going to be really tough," Reber said. "They have quality players and are very organized. It will be a battle, for sure."