Box Score ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA – The Grand View Men's Soccer team continued their magical run with a dominant 2-0 victory over No. 9 seeded Georgia Gwinnett in the quarterfinals of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship on Wednesday morning. The Vikings delivered another stellar defensive performance while finding their offensive rhythm late to punch their ticket to the national semifinals.
The match remained scoreless through a tense first half and much of the second, with both teams battling for control. Grand View finally broke through in the 84th minute when
Justin Figaroa found the back of the net, assisted by
Braden Schoene, giving the Vikings a crucial 1-0 lead. Just three minutes later,
Pietro Piacenza added an insurance goal assisted by
Tim Schoorlemmer in the 87th minute, sealing the 2-0 victory and sending Grand View to the Final Four.
Grand View controlled much of the match, outshooting Georgia Gwinnett 13-8 overall and holding a commanding 9-4 advantage in corner kicks. The Vikings' patient approach and persistent pressure eventually overwhelmed the Grizzlies' defense in the closing minutes. Both Figaroa and Piacenza, who have been instrumental throughout the tournament, delivered when it mattered most.
Grand View's defense once again proved impenetrable, with goalkeeper
Luis Helm recording one save and posting his third consecutive clean sheet of the tournament. The defensive unit remained organized and composed throughout the 90 minutes, limiting Georgia Gwinnett's opportunities and preserving another shutout victory in the national championship.
The match remained relatively clean, with just two yellow cards issued—one to both squads.
Dylan Hunston was cautioned in the 81st minute, while Djordje Djurasinovic received a yellow card in the 39th minute. Despite the physical nature of a quarterfinal contest, the Vikings maintained their composure and closed out the match professionally.
MATCH NOTES
- Justin Figaroa's goal in the 84th minute, assisted by Braden Schoene, opened the scoring.
- Pietro Piacenza added an insurance goal in the 87th minute, assisted by Tim Schoorlemmer.
- Luis Helm earned one save and his third consecutive clean sheet of the tournament.
- Grand View outshot Georgia Gwinnett 13-8 and held a 9-4 advantage in corner kicks.
- Grand View has now posted back-to-back-to-back shutouts in the national championship, defeating No. 1 Bethel and No. 9 Georgia Gwinnett by a combined score of 3-0.
WHAT'S NEXT? Grand View advances to the national semifinals at the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. The Vikings will play on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 1 p.m. against No. 12 ranked Cumberlands (Ky.) as they continue their historic pursuit of a national championship.
