OLATHE, Kansas -- The second-seeded Lindsey Wilson men's soccer team advance to the NAIA National Tournament quarterfinals with a 5-1 win today over Mid-Continent (Ky.) University at the College Boulevard Activity Center.
The Blue Raiders (19-2-0) scored five unanswered goals to avenge last week's region tournament loss to the Cougars and march into Saturday's quarterfinals.
Lindsey Wilson freshman Jakob Rittig led the charge with two first half goals and junior Nathaniel Jafta added a pair of goals and an assist to lead the Blue Raiders to the win.
No. 18-seed Mid-Continent -- who had won five straight entering tonight's match -- continued their dominate play in the early going. Freddy Okello scored the game's first goal in the ninth minute to put the Cougars on top 1-0.
Lindsey Wilson responded as sophomore Carnell Learmond played the ball deep into the penalty area onto the Rittig's boot for the game-tying goal in the 19th minute.
Rittig scored his second goal of the match and 16th of the season in the 28th minute off Jafta's cross from the left flank. The eventual game-winner is Rittig's fourth of the season.
Learmond added the first of three insurance goals in the 66th minute to give the Blue Raiders a 3-1 lead. Jafta scored his team-leading 21st and 22nd goals of the season to end the Cougars' season at 14-8-2.
The Blue Raiders advance to the Saturday's national quarterfinals where the meet the winner of Friday's match between No. 7-seed Southern Nazarene (Okla.) University and No. 10-seed Auburn University-Montgomery (Ala.). Kickoff for the quarterfinal match is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. CT.