DELRAY BEACH, Fla. – Davenport University has an NAIA National Championship trophy coming home to Grand Rapids.
 
Trailing 1-0 almost the entire match, the men's soccer team evened the score in the 76^th minute on a penalty kick taken by Dzenan Catic and a header by a 6-foot-5 Chase Burgess off a corner kick 2:04 into extra time sealed the University's first ever NAIA national title as a team with a 2-1 overtime win over Texas at Brownsville Saturday evening.
 
It is the first NAIA National Championship clinched by a team and the third overall for Davenport University. Track & field's Tori Brooks won the indoor and outdoor high jump national titles last season. 

Davenport (22-3-1) also became the first school in the state of Michigan to clinch an NAIA men's soccer national title.
  
"Year 2014 was a special year for us… it started in August and it was a long, long season and we have some spectacular seniors on this squad that really helped us out," head coach Chris Hughes said. "We have some youth and depth on this team which was just special for us and to cap it off that way (winning the title) was even more special.
 
"Our senior center back that almost didn't come out this year was the game-winning goal. These kids have worked so hard and we try to get them to believe in the system and trying to change the culture into something I believe is special. Right now it's a great night for Panther nation and our program. It will take me a few weeks to process this one."

Although the match was mainly a battle for possession, Davenport saw itself in a hole in the 28^th minute when the dangerous Ricardo Diegues volleyed in the box for his 33rd goal of the season to put the Ocelots (23-1-0) ahead.
 
Despite several close chances in the second half, especially on corner kick opportunities, the Panthers caught a break when a handball inside the goalkeerper's box set up a penalty kick. Catic earned his nation-leading 39^th goal by going to the left side of the net.
 
The momentum slightly shifted over to Davenport going into overtime. Lito Esquivel set up a perfect corner kick from the left side to find the head of Burgess to complete the rally.
 
Both shots were even at 13 but the Panthers had a 5-3 edge on goals.
 
Freshman Aaron Orban made two saves while his opposite Axel Svenson stopped three shots.
 
Orban was also selected to the All-Tournament team along with Catic, Jacob Love and Cameron Cavanagh.
 
Men's Soccer Contact: Rick Hoskin | 616-554-5045 | rhoskin@davenport.edu
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