Columbia International University Athletics

The Columbia International University men's soccer team was able to accomplish what no other team in program history was able to do. They advanced to the NCCAA South Region Final. The Rams and Warriors traded goals in regulation, while no goals were scored in the first overtime and it looked as though everything was pointing to a second overtime. Everyone was ready for penalty kicks as the game was highly competitive throughout.

Then the Warriors put the pressure on with less than four minutes remaining. A ball was sent in by the Warriors and seconds later the ball find the slightest hole past Dominik Schleinitz and into the back of the net. One team celebrated as the other suffered the heart break.

The teams played back and forth soccer throughout the opening minutes of the first half. The Warriors would put the most pressure on. The Rams back line, Dominik Byars, Jed Blanchat, Hunter Haynes, and Braden Elmer were up for the challenge and when the Warriors did get a shot off, Schleinitz was there for the save.

The Rams and Warriors continued to trade chances throughout the rest of the half. With about three minutes and thirty seconds remaining in the half a foul was called against the Warriors that gave the Rams a free kick. Byars took the free kick looking to get the ball into the box from way out, but his ball was able to find its way through all the bodies into the back of the net to give the Rams an early lead. The Rams took that lead into the break.

The Rams came out of the second half looking to get their second goal as they got off some shots to open the half. However, after those shots the Warriors offense went on attack and put a ton of pressure on the Rams. Schleinitz literally continued to stand on his head and keep the game in the favor of the Rams. Save after save from him keep the Rams ahead. In the eighty-second minute the Warriors were able to get a long screaming shot off that went just over his finger tips and the Warriors tied the game at one. The Rams got one more shot off before the end of regulation, but the Warriors got off six, but Schleinitz was there to save the ones of goal. The teams were heading into overtime with the first goal deciding the NCCAA South Region Champion.

The first overtime saw the Rams only get one shot off from Alvaro Urena. The Warriors continued to keep the pressure on the Rams with a lot of shots, but the Rams held strong and the teams headed to a second overtime.

The second overtime was much of the same over the first five minutes. However, at the 106:03 the Warriors struck and found the back of the net and stunned the Rams. The Warriors celebrated on their own field and the Rams suffered heart break.

Columbia International made the most of their shots with 10 overall and six on goal, while Southern Wesleyan had 38 shots with 15 shots on goal...The Rams had four corners and the Warriors had seven...Dominik Schleinitz had a great game with 13 saves...Dominik Byars scored the Rams lone goal.

After tonight the Rams season comes to a close, but after a great end of the season the Rams will look to build upon it for next year. With a lot of the team returning the Rams will look to make their way back to the final.