1983 NAIA National Soccer Championships

1982 NAIA Soccer Championships Junior forward Jean-Georges Balia scored two goals and assisted on another, and goalkeeper Jerry Vick recorded his thrid tournament shutout as Simon Fraser University blanked host institution Mid­ western State TX, 4-0, to capture the championship game of the 24th annual NAIA National Soccer Tournament, November 27. It was the second national soccer title for the British Columbia school and broke a string of five consecutive championships by Quincy College IL. Ironically, the last team to win the NAIA soccer crown besides Quincy was Simon Fraser in 1976 at Pasadena, CA. The Clansmen dominated play during the six-day tournament, outscoring opponents 17-1 in four games. Balia, who was voted the tournament's out­ standing forward, set a record for most goals in a tournament (8) and tied records for most points in a tournament (10) and most goals in one game (4). Simon Fraser's senior fullback Alex Barnetson was voted the outstanding back award. The Clansmen, who had entered the tournament as the fourth- seeded team, finished their 1982 season with a 16-2-2 overall record. The "Cinderella Story" of the tourna­ ment turned out to be the success of Belhaven College MS, which captured third place with a 2-1 win over top- seeded Avila MO in the consolation match. The Blazers, seeded number six and making their first tournament ap­ pearance, upset Quincy College, 2-1, in first round pool play to advance into the final four. They displayed a defense- oriented style of play which spotlighted the heroics of goalkeeper Dwain Miller, voted the tournament's most valuable player. Despite cool temperatures and rain which left extremely muddy conditions for the final two days of competition, the championship final drew more than 1,000 fans to watch Midwestern and Simon Fraser decide the title. The tournament marked the first time that an intercollegiate soccer championship had been played in the state of Texas. Tournament officials estimated that the week-long, 12-team event was witnessed by more than 6,000 spectators. In addition to sponsorship by Midwestern State University, involvement within the Wichita Falls community was prevalent as representatives of the BCI Ambassadors, the Maskat Temple and the "Mavericks" helped in the administration and hospi­ tality of the tournament. - 12 -