The Missouri Baptist University men’s soccer closed out a record-breaking season by claiming the AMC conference title, winning 2-1 in overtime, for the first time in MBU history.
Photo by John Wood
After scoring the game-winning goal in overtime and ultimately leading the MBU men’s soccer team to the NAIA National Tournament, freshman Jona Oesterling joins his team in celebration. The Spartans, ranked No. 26, travel to Marshall, Missouri, to play the Missouri Valley Vikings, No. 5 seed, on Saturday, Nov. 17.
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Winning the conference tournament is just one of this season’s many accomplishments that made Spartan soccer history. These accomplishments include first conference tournament championship, first NAIA National Tournament bid, most clean sheets in a single season (sophomore Davide Bucarelli, a goalie who is double majoring in business and accounting) and going undefeated at home. After what Graduate Assistant James Routledge described as a “tight beginning” to the game, with both teams hesitant to blink first, Lyon College took the lead, scoring in the final 10 minutes of the first half. Defender Tommy Struckman, sophomore, tied the game 1-1 early in the second half, and the Spartans looked to finish, but the remainder of the half went scoreless. The Spartans’ productive season topped off when the team claimed the Conference Championship after an overtime goal made by freshman Jona Oesterling, a business major. Before making the game-winning goal, Oesterling said his thoughts went silent. He saw the goalie was in the far right corner of the net, so he shot to the left. “After I saw the ball in the net, it just felt amazing,” Oesterling said. “Everybody ran on the field and celebrated; it was great.” “This is the best result for MBU men’s soccer,” Routledge said. “The guys are setting records and are not afraid of anyone. It’s good for MBU to have such a breakout year. What a great group of guys.” After making their mark on the program’s history throughout the 2018 season, the Spartans look to continue their achievements at the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Tournament, which begins Saturday, Nov. 17. According to Routledge, the Spartans’ endless effort has paid off and will continue to do so in the postseason. The Spartans are the No. 26 seed in the field of 30 and are set to play the No. 5 seed, the Missouri Valley Vikings, on Saturday, Nov. 17 in Marshall, Missouri. Jacob Alvernia, in his sixth season as head coach and taking his team to Nationals for the first time in his career, credited the team for its hard work. “It was an unbelievable feeling to win the tournament. We’ve said all year to our guys, respect the process and our opponent. We try to focus on our performance and the things we can control. If a team is better and willing to work harder than our guys then we’ll tip our hats,” Alvernia said. “As long as we come out ready, the result is only known by God.”
Photo by John Wood
Men’s soccer heads to Nationals after completing a season of firsts — first conference tournament championship, first NAIA National Tournament bid, most shutouts in a single season and an undefeated home season — with a 2-1 win against the Lyon College Scots.
Emma Tihen 
Madison Coumerilh 
Kaylee Ascher