Chad Waller, NAIA Director of Sports Information & Media Services, cwaller@naia.org
ORANGE BEACH, Ala. – (box score) No. 3-seed Hastings (Neb.) scored four goals in the first-half and dominated Holy Names (Calif.), 5-0 in the Quarterfinals of the NAIA Men’s Soccer National Championship final site from the Orange Beach Sportsplex. The shutout was the Broncos sixth-straight and 17th this season in 23 games. Hastings will play in the Semifinals on Friday at 6 p.m. CST against the winner of No. 7 William Jewell (Mo.) and No. 15 Science & Arts (Okla.).
“The guys were hungry to score goals and put the game away early,” said Hastings head coach Chris Kranjc. “We didn’t want to give up a goal in the second half and lose our shutout. The boys have set that goal and it is important for them (to get the shutout). We stayed composed and the kids played well.”
The game-winner came just nine minutes into the contest. Heart of America Athletic Conference Player of the Year Yannic Thiel scored on a penalty kick for his second goal of the tournament. He was just getting started as he added a goal in the 40th minute after he was credited with an assist on the team’s third goal.
Senior AJ Dingledine began a scoring frenzy late in the first half. His goal in the 28th minute handed Hastings a 2-0 lead. Sophomore Jordan Green added a marker less than four minutes later before Dingledine’s second goal in the 41st minute.
With a 4-0 lead heading into the second stanza, Hastings got one more goal off the foot of junior Ryan Robinson in the 59th minute.
The 5-0 win tied for the largest margin of defeat and largest shutout in this year’s National Championship. No. 4 Notre Dame (Ohio) blanked Davenport (Mich.) by the same score in the Opening Round on Nov. 20.
Dingledine and Green each finished with five points each. They were part of a squad to post 25 total shots, including 10 on-goal.
Junior keeper Cody Poteat and junior keeper Garrett Sass combined for the shutout. Holy Names sophomore keeper Lars Johansen took the loss in goal and falls to 9-2-2.
Holy Names wraps up its season with a 13-6-2 record.
Hosted by the Alabama Gulf Coast Sports Commission and the University of Mobile (Ala.), the Championship continues with the third Quarterfinal between No. 7 William Jewell (Mo.) and No. 15 Science & Arts (Okla.) at 5 p.m. CST.
For more information on the National Championship, click here.
NOTES: Hastings is making its third trip to the Semifinals and is 0-2 all-time… Overall, the Broncos stand 9-4-3 in their seventh National Championship trip… The 5-0 win was the largest margin of victory for Hastings in the National Championship (in 16 matches)… Holy Names falls to 3-4 in its fourth National Championship… Hastings holds a 16-0 scoring advantage on its current streak of six-straight shutouts… With 23 wins this year, the Broncos have tied the school record for victories…Holy Names was shut out for just the second time this year (in 21 matches).
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