BILLINGS – Rocky Mountain College’s soccer men are back in the NAIA national tournament after narrowly missing out last season.
The Bears learned Monday morning they’ll travel to fifth-ranked Hastings College for the opening round of the 2018 NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship.
Rocky (17-4, 10-3) closed strong by winning the Cascade Collegiate Conference Tournament title on Saturday in a shootout over Southern Oregon. The Bears had already earned one of the conference’s two automatic bids by reaching the conference championship. SOU had qualified by winning the regular-season championship.
Rocky is ranked No. 1 in the NAIA for total shutouts and No. 2 in shutouts per game. Hastings ranks fourth in total shutouts and goals per game.
The opening-round match is set for Nov. 17 in Hastings, Neb.
Also on Monday, Marco Kummerle earned the men’s soccer offensive player of the week honor for the Cascade Collegiate Conference. The midfielder from Pliezhausen, Germany, was an important offensive piece in the Battlin’ Bears quest to the conference title. In the semifinals, he notably provided the game winning goal.
Kristofer Wennin earned the men’s soccer defensive player of the week. The goalkeeper from Miami, Fla., powered the Battlin’ Bears to shutouts in the quarterfinals and semifinals. In the conference championship, Wennin’s defensive performance in the penalty shootout allowed Rocky to win the title.
