KISSIMMEE, Fla. – Playing their first-ever postseason game, the OUAZ men's soccer team recorded a 2-0 shutout over Columbia International in their Pool B game of the 2018 NCCAA Division I Men's Soccer National Championship at the Austin-Tindall Soccer Complex.
 
"Honestly, it just felt good to finally play. Our guys haven't played a game in a month. With that being said, I thought our team did a really great job of applying what we worked on leading up to today and put together another gutsy performance," OUAZ Head Coach Matt Gow said of his team's effort.
 
OUAZ (12-5-1) got both of their goals from Ricardo Navarro. His first came in the 15th minute when he converted a penalty kick for a 1-0 lead. He added the insurance tally in the 56th minute after being setup by Kyle McDowell and Samuel George.
 
The Spirit took 22 shots in the game with just six of those attempts on goal. They limited Columbia International (11-10) to 13 shots and five on frame. OUAZ also recorded a 13-5 edge in corner kicks.
 
Navarro's third multi-goal game of the season came on a game-high seven shots and four shots on goal. Mauricio Ochoa and David Lopez added three shots apiece for the Spirit.
 
The shutout is just the fourth of the year for the Spirit. Yuri Nascimento made five saves to earn his ninth win and third shutout of the year.
 
Gow added, "I want to thank our women's soccer team for supporting us tonight through the final whistle."
 
OUAZ will complete pool play on Wednesday at 3 p.m. MST when they face Grace College. The Spirit hold the tiebreaker over the Lancers and will advance to the semifinals with a win or draw. They could also reach the semifinal round with a loss depending on tiebreaker results following all games of pool play.
 
"I am excited to see our guys have another opportunity tomorrow against a very good Grace team," Gow shared about Wednesday's game.