ORANGE BEACH, ALABAMA – The Grand View Men's Soccer team is headed to the national championship game after a hard-fought 1-0 victory over University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) in the semifinals of the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship this morning. The Vikings showcased their trademark defensive resilience and clinical finishing to secure their spot in the title match, extending their remarkable tournament run.

The match remained scoreless through a tightly contested first half, with both teams creating limited chances. Grand View broke through early in the second half when Herman Furumo found the back of the net in the 50th minute, assisted by Pietro Piacenza and Justin Figaroa, giving the Vikings a crucial 1-0 lead. Despite sustained pressure from the Patriots throughout the remainder of the match, Grand View's defense held firm to preserve the narrow advantage and punch their ticket to the championship.

The Vikings controlled possession and created more opportunities, outshooting Cumberlands 13-7 overall and holding a narrow 4-2 advantage in shots on goal. The Patriots pushed desperately for an equalizer in the closing minutes, but the Vikings' organized defensive shape and disciplined play kept them at bay.

Grand View's defense continued its spectacular tournament form, with goalkeeper Luis Helm recording two crucial saves and posting his third consecutive clean sheet. The Vikings have now recorded four straight shutouts in the national championship, allowing zero goals while defeating the tournament's No. 16, No. 1, No. 9, and now a dangerous No. 12 Cumberlands team. Helm and the defensive unit have been nothing short of sensational.

The match remained relatively clean despite the high stakes, with just one yellow card issued to Cumberland's Bruno Garcia in the 89th minute. The Vikings maintained their composure and focus throughout the tense semifinal, demonstrating the mental toughness required to reach a national championship game.

MATCH NOTES

• Herman Furumo's goal in the 50th minute, assisted by Pietro Piacenza and Justin Figaroa, proved to be the game-winner.
• Luis Helm earned two saves and his fourth consecutive clean sheet of the tournament.
• Grand View outshot Cumberlands 13-7 and held a 4-2 advantage in SOG.
• The Vikings have now posted four straight shutouts in the national championship, outscoring opponents 5-0.
• Grand View has defeated the No. 16, No. 1, No. 9, and No.12 seeded Cumberlands by a combined score of 5-0 en route to the championship game.

WHAT'S NEXT? Grand View advances to the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Final on Sunday, December 8th at 2pm CT in Orange Beach, Alabama. Their championship opponent is No. 15 West Virginia University Institute of Technology. The Vikings prepare for their first-ever appearance in the national title game!