For the first time since 2005, the Lindenwood Lions soccer team will participate in the NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship. The Lions earned an automatic bid after winning the HAAC postseason tournament on Friday over Missouri Valley.

The Lions and the Vikings tied 2-2 in the conference championship final and Lindenwood was crowned the champs after a 4-3 win in penalty kicks.

The Vikings were the first to get on the scoreboard when Carlos Arribas scored the first of his two goals in the 45th minute to give the Vikings the 1-0 lead at the half.

In the 60th minute of the second half, Victor Alvardo would score for the Lions to tie the championship game up at one. Fifteen minutes later, Robin Rundstorm would give the Lions the lead, 2-1. The Vikings did not go down quietly, evening the score with a goal by Arribas in the 77th minute.

Lindenwood and Missouri Valley would play two ten-minute overtime periods in which neither team was able to score to win the game and the game would go into penalty kicks.

In the first and second rounds of penalty kicks both teams were able to score. In round three, Lindenwood goalie Victor Francoz would stop the shot by Valley forward David Flores and John Murphy would score for the Lions, to give the Lions the lead. After Francoz stopped a shot from Pedro Franco, Alvardo had a chance to win it but was stopped by Valley goalie Igor Lima. Missouri Valley would score on their fifth attempt but the Lions could win with their next opportunity. Francoz would come out of his net to take the final and deciding kick, the freshman from France would score to give the Lions the 4-3 shootout win.

The Lions will learn who their opponent for the opening round of the NAIA National Championship on November 14th. After the field is announced the Lions will take to the field on November 21st.