(LEBANON, Ill., Nov. 4)—The McKendree College men’s soccer team found itself in very familiar surroundings following its 3-0 victory Saturday in St. Louis against Missouri Baptist University.

 

For the third consecutive year, the Bearcats won the American Midwest Conference Play-In Tournament. McKendree extended its AMC Play-In win streak to six matches and earned an automatic bid to the NAIA Region V Tournament. McKendree will be the region’s No. 6 seed and will travel to Lamoni, Iowa to face No. 3 seed Graceland University Monday at 7 p.m.

 

Senior forward Nicolas Mosca (Buenos Aires, Argentina/San Luis Gonzaga) (Buenos Aires, Argentina) scored a pair of first-half goals, and sophomore back Ryan Miller (Sycamore, Illinois/Sycamore) (Sycamore, Ill./Sycamore) added an insurance goal in the second half as McKendree improved to 12-6-2 on the year. Junior midfielder Tim Dew (Winchester, Hampshire/Peter Symonds) (Winchester, England) had two assists on the day, while junior midfielder Gareth Batchelor (Southampton, Hampshire/Tauntons) (Southampton, England) assisted on Mosca’s second goal.

 

Saturday’s victory also helped the Bearcats avenge a 3-0 loss at Missouri Baptist just three weeks ago. The Spartans close out their season with a record of 11-6-2.

 

McKendree is traveling a path similar to the one it followed to last year’s NAIA Region V championship. The Bearcats won the 2005 AMC Play-In to receive the No. 6 seed in the regional tournament. Last year, McKendree knocked off the top three seeds to claim the NAIA Region V title and a bid to the NAIA National Championship in Daytona Beach, Fla.

 

Junior Santiago Hampton (Buenos Aires, Argentina/St. George's) (Buenos Aires, Argentina) earned his second consecutive shutout and fifth on the year to move his record to 8-3-1. He made eight saves and was aided by a stellar defensive effort by the Bearcats.

 

McKendree and Graceland have met once already this season, with the Yellow Jackets posting a 2-0 victory back on Sept. 10 at Leemon Field.