MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (November 18, 2023) - The sun was setting beautifully in Miami Gardens when the St. Thomas University (STU) Men's Soccer team took the field for the NAIA National Championship Second Round match up against Menlo College. The Bobcats received a bye in the first round, immediately putting them in the Second Round on Saturday, November 18th.

After receiving an at-large berth in the NAIA National Men's Soccer Championship, the Bobcats were set to host two match ups at AutoNation Field. The first took place on Thursday, November 16th where Menlo faced the College of Idaho. Menlo emerged victorious, progressing to the Second Round where they would face St. Thomas.  

The Bobcats, boasting a remarkable 17-1-2 overall record and 13-1 in conference play, were ready to face the Oaks. The first half showcased the Bobcats' dominance, having possession of the ball for a solid portion of the half. St. Thomas managed to break through Menlo's defense in the 43rd minute. 

Evan Bjerke managed to notch a shot which was rebounded by Guido Cacciabue who scored a brilliant goal. The score read Menlo 0, St. Thomas 1, and the pressure was on for Menlo to mount a comeback. 

The second half saw Menlo pushing harder to equalize, but the St. Thomas defense held strong. In terms of statistics, St. Thomas dominated with 21 shots, 10 of which were on target, compared to Menlo's four shots. St. Thomas' goalkeeper, Franco Acerbi, made two crucial saves to secure their victory. 

The final whistle blew, and the scoreboard remained unchanged. St. Thomas emerged as the victors with a 1-0 win, maintaining their impressive record and moving on to the next round of the NAIA National Championship. This is the second year in a row that the Bobcats will head to the final site. 

-STU-