Master’s Soccer Team Thwarted Again Because of Margin of Win

For the second time in three years, The Master’s College tied the nation’s No. 1-ranked team and went 1-0-1 in pool play in the NAIA men’s soccer championships. Also for the second time in three years, The Master’s failed to advance to the semifinals on the basis of goal differential.

The Mustangs (10-11-2) were eliminated Wednesday when top-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan defeated Green Mountain, Vt., 4-1, in a pool-play match at the Blossum Sports Complex in San Antonio, Tex.

The Bobcats’ victory gave them a 1-0-1 record in pool play, the same as The Master’s, whom they tied, 2-2, Monday.

West Virginia Wesleyan (21-0-1) advanced to Friday’s semifinal because it had a larger margin of victory over Green Mountain (19-2-2) than did The Master’s. The Mustangs beat Green Mountain, 1-0, on Tuesday.

“It’s unfortunate that we didn’t advance to the semifinals, but we’re handling it pretty well,” The Master’s Coach Jim Rickard said. “Today’s game did not come as a big surprise to us. Wesleyan is a very good team, and we kind of put ourselves in a hole by only beating Green Mountain, 1-0.”

In the 1990 NAIA playoffs, The Master’s tied West Virginia Wesleyan, 1-1, and each team had a 1-0-1 mark in pool play. The Bobcats advanced on goal differential and won the national title.