BEAVERTON, Ore. -- The NAIA’s top-ranked Azusa Pacific takes on perennial Pacific Northwest men’s soccer powers Concordia (Ore.) and Simon Fraser (B.C.) at this weekend’s Far West Challenge on the Ronaldo Fields located at the campus of Nike’s World Headquarters. Fellow GSAC program Westmont takes on Concordia and Simon Fraser in the 4-team, 4-game round-robin tournament.
All four teams converged on the Tiger Woods Center for an opening banquet Thursday evening in preparation for the weekend’s competition.
2008 Far West Challenge Schedule
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, 1 p.m. – Westmont vs. Simon Fraser
Friday, Sept. 5, 2008, 3:30 p.m. – Azusa Pacific vs. Concordia
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, 1 p.m. – Westmont vs. Concordia
Saturday, Sept. 6, 2008, 3:30 p.m. – Azusa Pacific vs. Simon Fraser
Live Stats available for all tournament games.
2008 Far West Challenge At A Glance
The four participating programs have combined for 45 NAIA national tournament appearances and produced 5 NAIA championship teams.
The head coaches of the participating programs have a combined 632 victories spanning 50 years of collegiate coaching experience.
Westmont/Simon Fraser Series History
Simon Fraser leads, 6-4
Last Result (9/13/97)
Westmont 3, Simon Fraser 1
Azusa Pacific/Concordia Series History
Azusa Pacific leads, 2-0-1
Last Result (9/10/04)
Concordia 2, Azusa Pacific 2
Westmont/Concordia Series History
Westmont leads, 3-0
Last Result (9/11/04)
Westmont 1, Concordia 0
Azusa Pacific/Simon Fraser Series History
Azusa Pacific leads, 3-0
Last Result (11/19/07 - NAIA Semifinals)
Azusa Pacific 1, Simon Fraser 0
2008 Far West Challenge participants
CONCORDIA UNIVERSITY (Portland, Ore.)
2008 RECORD: 2-2
HEAD COACH: Dan Birkey (21st season, 268-131-16)
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: 3 (1999/2005/06)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Concordia has claimed 6 straight (and 8 of the past 10) Cascade Collegiate Conference championships. The Cavaliers have made 10 straight NAIA Regional tournament appearances.
SIMON FRASER UNIVERSITY (Burnaby, B.C.)
2008 RECORD: 2-2
HEAD COACH: Alan Koch (first season at Simon Fraser; 3rd career season, 24-18)
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: 21 (1975-83/86-88/91/94-96/2002-05/07)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: In addition to its 3 national titles, Simon Fraser has 3 NAIA runner-up and 5 third-place finishes in its 21 national tournament appearances. Last season, the Clan advanced to the national semifinals.
WESTMONT COLLEGE (Santa Barbara, Calif.)
2008 RECORD: 1-1
HEAD COACH: Dave Wolf (18th season, 232-86-34)
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: 16 (1968-72/74/84/86/88/89/93-95/97/98/2000)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Westmont, winner of 11 conference titles in the GSAC’s 22-year history, has produced more NAIA Men’s Soccer All-Americans than any other program.
AZUSA PACIFIC UNIVERSITY (Azusa, Calif.)
2008 RECORD: 1-0-1
HEAD COACH: Phil Wolf (8th season, 108-25-16)
NAIA CHAMPIONSHIP APPEARANCES: 5 (1996/2004/05/06/07)
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS: Azusa Pacific posted back-to-back NAIA runner-up finishes in 2005 and 2006 before claiming the program’s first-ever NAIA men’s soccer title in 2007.
