FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Indiana Tech men's soccer team will look to win its first conference tournament title and a berth in the NAIA National Championship for the first time since 2009 as they host Lawrence Tech in the Wolverine-Hoosier Athletic Conference (WHAC) Tournament Championship Saturday afternoon.
The Warriors, seeded third in the tournament, defeated sixth-seeded Concordia University (Mich.), 3-2, in the quarterfinals at home before upsetting second-seeded and No. 23-ranked University of Northwestern Ohio, 1-0, this past Wednesday in Lima, Ohio. It was Tech's first win over the Racers in program history and put the Orange and Black in the finals of the WHAC Tournament for the first time since they claimed the tournament title back in 2009. Tech went on to defeat the University of Maine at Fort Kent in the Opening Round of the National Championship to make it to the final site before falling to the Master's University in the national quarterfinals.
The Blue Devils, seeded fourth in the tournament, are making their second straight appearance in the WHAC Tournament Championship after defeating fifth-seeded Cornerstone University, 2-1, before taking down No. 19-ranked and regular season champion Madonna, 1-0, on the road. Lawrence Tech has never made the NAIA postseason before and are in their eighth year of existence as a program. Last season LTU fell to UNOH in the championship match, 2-0, on home turf.
The Warriors took the regular season matchup from the Blue Devils, 3-0, back on October 13 at home. Saturday's matchup has the makings of a defensive battle as both teams rank in the top-four of the conference in goals allowed per game, with the Orange and Black allowing just 1.00 goals per game while the Blue and White are right behind at 1.25 GAA.
Kickoff for the championship match is set for 1 p.m. from Warrior Athletic Field with the winner earning the conference's second automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship. Following the game there will be a presentation of All-Conference awards from WHAC Commissioner Rob Miller and the trophy presentation will follow.
