FRESNO, Calif. – (Press Book – PDF) Sixteen teams take the next step towards the championship title as the 2009 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship final site is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30. For the second straight Championship, Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University and Fresno Sports Council will host the 51st annual event from Ramirez Field. All the action can be seen live on the web, through JumpTV and www.watchnaia.com.

In all, there are 15 games beginning with an 11:30 a.m. match on Nov. 30 between No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and No. 16 Bellevue (Neb.). There are four games scheduled during each of the first three days. Dec. 3 is an off-day as the semifinal teams gear up for action on Dec. 4 at 2 and 4:30 p.m.. The national champion will be crowned on Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.

FRESNO, Calif. – (Press Book – PDF) Sixteen teams take the next step towards the championship title as the 2009 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship final site is scheduled to begin on Nov. 30. For the second straight Championship, Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University and Fresno Sports Council will host the 51st annual event from Ramirez Field. All the action can be seen live on the web, through JumpTV and www.watchnaia.com.

In all, there are 15 games beginning with an 11:30 a.m. match on Nov. 30 between No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) and No. 16 Bellevue (Neb.). There are four games scheduled during each of the first three days. Dec. 3 is an off-day as the semifinal teams gear up for action on Dec. 4 at 2 and 4:30 p.m.. The national champion will be crowned on Dec. 5 at 3 p.m.

Coming into its third overall Championship, defending national champion No. 12 Bethel (Tenn.) takes on No. 5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) on Dec. 1. The Simon Fraser defense has been solid this year allowing 14 goals in 20 games (0.7 per game). Conversely, the Bethel offense has found the back of the net 69 times in 19 matches (3.63 per game). Bethel has scored at least three goals nine times while Simon Fraser has not allowed a three-goal game yet this year.

Bethel was ranked No. 1 the entire 2009 season, the first for any NAIA program since Rio Grande (Ohio) in 2004. The Wildcats rattled off 31 straight wins or ties, dating back to 2008, before falling to Martin Methodist (Tenn.) 2-1 in the TranSouth Athletic Conference Championship on Nov. 13. A rematch between Bethel and Martin Methodist could be in order if both teams make it to the semifinals, scheduled for Dec. 4.

No stranger to National Championship action, Lindsey Wilson enters with a 16-2-1 record this year. The Blue Raiders, coached by Ray Wells who checks in with 393 career wins, face No. 16 Bellevue on Nov. 30. In its 16th straight event, Lindsey Wilson has won seven national titles with the last coming in 2005. Since that title, the Blue Raiders are 8-3 in the postseason. Lindsey Wilson currently has won eight straight and has outscored the opponent 41-1 during that stretch.

Host school, Fresno Pacific, takes on No. 4 Embry-Riddle (Fla.) on Nov. 30 at 7 p.m. In its eighth Championship, Fresno Pacific stands at 10-7-2 in the playoffs. Last year, the Sunbirds took No. 1 seed-Oklahoma City to overtime before dropping a 2-1 decision. Embry-Riddle is 13-3-4 this year and qualified after winning The Sun Conference Tournament.

Two teams making their first National Championship appearance, No. 8 Southern Poly State (Ga.) and Martin Methodist, face each other on Dec. 1. Champion of the TranSouth Athletic Conference Tournament, Martin Methodist has won five straight matches and is 11-3-3. Southern Poly State has won 10 of its last 11 matches with all 10 of those wins coming by a shutout variety.

Since 2002, the National Championship has seen seven different winners and just once has the No. 1 seed won it all -- Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in 2007. Four current schools have owned the trophy at least one time and join the other 12 schools looking for the distinction of 2009 National Champion.

Fast Facts:

• Fresno Pacific (Calif.) University is hosting the National Championship final site for the second straight year. In addition to the 2008 event, the Sunbirds hosted the 1984 Championship in which West Virginia Wesleyan won by a 3-2 double-overtime count against FPU.

• The National Championship has been won by a different team in each of the last seven seasons.

• Just one top seed has won the national title in the last seven Championships (Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in 2007).

• Moses Aduny of Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is the lone 2008 First Team All-American among this year's Championship teams in the final site.

• Since pool play was eliminated prior to 1999, just three No. 1 seeds have played in the title game - Azusa Pacific (Calif.) in 2007, Lindsey Wilson in 2001 and Mobile (Ala.) in 1999.

• With Oklahoma City, the No. 1 seed from the 2008 event, not qualifying this year for the National Championship, that marks the second straight year that the No. 1 seed did not earn a postseason berth the following year. Azusa Pacific (Calif.), the 2007 national champion and No. 1 seed, failed to make the 2008 Championship field.

• Five of the six At-Large teams advanced to the National Championship final site. Those teams include No. 3 Rio Grande (Ohio), No. 8 Southern Poly State (Ga.), No. 10 Benedictine (Kan.), No. 12 Bethel (Tenn.) and Biola (Calif.). Last year, two At-Large squads competed in Fresno.

• Two teams are making their first appearance ever in the National Championship -- No. 8 Southern Poly State (Ga.) and Martin Methodist (Tenn.). Ironically, they will face each other in the Second Round on Tuesday.

• Overall, five teams advanced past the National Championship Opening Roundfor the first time -- No. 8 Southern Poly State (Ga.), No. 14 Columbia (Mo.), No. 16 Bellevue (Neb.), Biola (Calif.) and Martin Methodist (Tenn.).

• Simon Fraser (B.C.) is second all-time in Championship wins with 38 looking up at Quincy's (Ill.) 41 victories. Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is right behind with 36 wins.

• In the current 16-team field, four teams hold at least one National Championship title -- Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) (7), Simon Fraser (B.C.) (3), Rio Grande (Ohio) (1), Bethel (Tenn.) (1). Quincy (Ill.) sports 11 National Championships -- the most all-time of any men's soccer program.

• In the 2009 field, No. 5 Simon Fraser (B.C.) and No. 15 The Master's (Calif.) each hold the most wins with 17.

• Simon Fraser (B.C.) is making its 22nd overall Championship appearance, the most the most of any program all-time. The Clan are 38-16-4 with three titles.

•Three teams that entered the National Championship Opening Round with an undefeated record lost -- Ashford (Iowa), Bethel (Ind.), Maine-Fort Kent. Texas at Brownsville, who ends its season undefeated at 17-0-2, tied Biola in two overtimes, but was held from advancing after Biola made it to the Second Round on penalty kicks.