Game 19

vs Southern Nazarene (11-3-4, 8-1-3)
Thursday, November 14th | 6:00 PM | Bethany, OK
Video | Stats

Last Time Out
Newman faced two ranked opponents to end their regular season. On Thursday evening, the Jets hosted No. 16 Fort Hays State in their last home match of 2024. With both teams having clinched a playoff spot, the only thing left to determine was the seed each team would have at the tournament. The Tigers showed why they are considered the 16th best team in the country with a very strong performance. The Jets battled and even scored off of a great free kick by captain Gael Gonzalez, but two early Tiger goals in the beginning of each half made it hard for the Jets to upset the Tigers. On Saturday, Men's Soccer traveled to Bethany, Oklahoma to face the No. 22 Southern Nazarene Crimson Storm. SNU needed a win to claim the MIAA/GAC regular season title for the fourth year in a row. Two late goals in the 83rd minute of the match secured the title for SNU, giving the Jets the number 4 seed in the postseason tournament. 

Scouting the Jets
Men's Soccer ended the regular season with a 8-9-1 record, making that the best record the program has had since 2019. The Jets have already broken multiple program records including most points in a season, most shots, and shots on goal in a season. As well as multiple individual program records like Alberto Romano's most goals, points, and shots on goal in a season or Gustavo Dias Juliani's most assists in a season. The Jets end the regular season with Alberto Romano as the leader in offense with 12 goals and 25 points. Romano also led the conference in shots and shots on goal. He was second in the conference in goals and points. Gustavo Dias Juliani added the most assists for Newman and was second in the conference in assists. 13 different Newman players scored a goal this season, that's 8 more players than last year. 12 different players provided assists. 28 players got the chance to compete in at least 1 game throughout the season. The Jets will look to take down #1 seed SNU to claim their first ever MIAA/GAC championships win. 

Behind Enemy Lines
For the fourth-straight year, Southern Nazarene hosts as regular-season champions. The Crimson Storm ended the regular season 11-3-4, having only lost one game in conference play. Forward, Unaiz Shajani led the conference in goals and points with 13 goals and 28 points. SNU has conceded the least amount of goals in the conference, with 18, and they are the third highest goal-scoring team. 

The Series
The Jets have faced the Crimson Storm fourteen times, with both teams winning seven times. This season, Newman defeated No. 22 SNU in Wichita with a 5-3 final score. That was SNU's only conference loss this season. Southern Nazarene had their revenge, beating the Jets 2-0 in the last game of the season, at Bethany.