GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – After having to find another location to host the NAIA Men's Soccer Opening Round due to heavy snowstorms this week, the No. 7 Davenport men's soccer team have found a pitch to play as the Panthers will entertain Olivet Nazarene at the Aquinas Athletic Field Saturday at 2 p.m. Fans can follow the match on the Davenport Athletics Network.
 
The winner of the match will join 15 other schools in Delray Beach, Fla., for the remainder of the national championship Dec. 1-6.
 
Vs. Olivet Nazarene (NAIA National Opening Round)
Location: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Aquinas Athletic Field)
Date: Saturday, Nov. 22
Kickoff: 2 p.m. EST
Coverage: Live Stats/Video/Audio
Announcer: Bjorn Hansen
 
On the National Spotlight
Davenport is making its second straight - third overall - appearance in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. DU is 0-2 in the tournament including a 5-0 defeat to Indiana Wesleyan in the Opening Round last year.
 
How Davenport Got Back to Nationals
The Panthers earned a spot to the NAIA National Opening Round by defeating Northwestern Ohio 1-0 in the WHAC Tournament final, thus giving Davenport an automatic bid into the national tournament. Despite playing in cold temperatures in Lima, Ohio, the Panthers defense protected the lone goal scored by Dzenan Catic in the 66th minute.
 
How Olivet Nazarene Got In
The Tigers punched their fourth ticket to the national stage as the newly crowned Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference regular-season champions. Olivet Nazarene boasted a 155 record overall and 9-2 in league play for 27 points. In fact, the Tigers edged second-place Judson (Ill.) by one point in the standings. Judson still earned a spot into the national championship as the runner-up.
 
Davenport-Olivet Nazarene Series
Davenport and Olivet Nazarene have only met three times, twice in the Tigers campus and most recently in Mt. Vernon, Ohio in 2012. This will be the first time the Tigers visit the Panthers in Grand Rapids. Davenport leads the series 2-1-0.
 
Men's Soccer Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-554-5045 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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