To decide who moves on to the CCAC Championship, the Olivet Nazarene University men's soccer team was matched up against at #RV St. Xavier University (Ill.). In tonight's Semifinal matchup on Wednesday, November 11th the Tigers pulled out the thrilling victory beating the Cougars 3-2.

The Cougars, who the Tigers lost to earlier this season in a close, well-played contest, looked to do the same to ONU tonight. However, Olivet would come out on top, knowing that the CCAC Semifinal was their ticket to their first-ever CCAC title. With the win, they moved their record to 14-6 overall and the Cougars, meanwhile, dropped to 13-5-1 overall.

On a night that begged for postseason soccer, the Tigers and Cougars clashed once again in a very physical game neither team was willing to give up. Both teams looked to take control early knowing that either defense was good enough to fend off the other's offense for an extended period of time. The Tigers would be the first to strike, at the 6:41 mark senior defenseman Cory Miller (Zionsville, Ind.) scored his first goal of the year, assisted by Raphael Correa (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil) on a header.  With the lead, the Tigers continued to push ahead offensively scoring again at the 13:35 mark on another header from Vincent Mkhwanazi (Soweto, South Africa).  Raphael Correa would end up with the assist, giving him two for the evening.  The first half would end with ONU up 2-0, with the defenses dominating.  The second half would start just the same until St. Xavier put one away to make it a game, scoring at the 65:00 mark off the foot of Ben Johnson.  Johnson would put one by goalkeeper Kenny Huber on a penalty kick.  Just three minutes after the Tigers would stretch the lead back to two with a goal from freshman Logan Engelkes (Winnebago, Ill.), assisted by Joel Kline (Wheaton, Ill.) and Vincent Mkhwanazi.  The Cougars would feel the pressure of a two goal defecit until the the 87 minute mark when Adrian Guzman scored unassisted to make it 3-2 Olivet.  St. Xavier would run out of time and ONU would end up the victor.

The Tigers' offense was much more effective tonight against the Cougars than in their first meeting, outshooting the Cougars 18 to 11. ONU had six corner kicks to SXU's eight, and ONU and SXU each had 18 fouls in the game. There were 12 yellow cards and two red cards handed out in a very physical game between two teams that play tough every chance they get. Goalie Kenny Huber (Grand Blanc, Mich.) got his 11th win of the year and the biggest win of career thus far. He would finish with five saves, giving up two second half goals.

ONU will compete in the Championship match of the CCAC Tournament this Saturday, November 14th at 12:00 p.m. The Tigers will travel to Elgin, Ill. to play the Eagles of Judson University (Ill.). The Tigers will look to win their first-ever CCAC Championship.