DALTON, Ga. -- No. 1 ranked Dalton State College used early goals in each half to secure a 2-0 win over Indiana Tech in the final match of the Dalton Bracket in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship Opening Round. DSC scored in the 6th and 46th minutes, stealing the momentum from the outset of each 45. The loss concludes Tech's season with a 12-3-7 record after it advanced to at least the second round of the national tournament for the fourth-straight year. 

Roadrunner Justin Riescher scored the opener on an assist from Leonardo Seixas at the 5:50 mark, knocking the ball past Warrior goalkeeper Jaume Salvado from close range. Dalton State kept the pressure on with four more shots in the opening period. Tech's lone shot of the first half came off the foot of Brendan Sidway, forcing Michael Marrueta into his only save of the match. 

The home team doubled its advantage immediately after play resumed for the second half. Seixas again set up the goal, this time with a low driven cross from the left side that slid all the way through the penalty area to an on-rushing Josh Ramos for the one-touch finish at the back post. 

With it's season on the line, the Orange & Black did mount a late charge on Marrueta's goal. A sequence of a driven free-kick and an ensuing corner kick was the visitor's most dangerous spell of the match before Jaume Castells Mas found some space in the box with around 15 minutes to go, only to see his momentary breakthrough snuffed out by the stingy DSC defense.

Dalton State (16-1-3) closed out the match with a 12-2 shot advantage and a 3-1 lead in corner kicks. Salvado finished 2022 with a four-save performance. The Roadrunners will make the short trip west to Decatur, Ala., for an NAIA quarterfinal date against a yet-to-be-determined foe as the championship continues November 29th through December 5th at the Jack Allen Soccer Complex.