SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. -- For the second consecutive season, John Brown University will compete on the national stage after the Golden Eagles earned an at-large berth to the 2026 NAIA Men's Soccer National Championships, marking the program's eighth all-time appearance and first back-to-back qualifications in more than two decades.
The 19th-ranked Golden Eagles (12-5-1) will travel to Indianapolis, Ind., to face 15th-seeded Marian University (15-3-3) in a second-round matchup Saturday (Nov. 21) at Ascension St. Vincent Field. Kickoff time for the contest between the Golden Eagles and Knights will be announced, with the winner advancing to the championship's 16-team final site in Orange Beach, Ala.
John Brown's selection follows a season that culminated in its second consecutive Sooner Athletic Conference Tournament championship appearance. After finishing second in the SAC regular-season standings at 6-3, the Golden Eagles advanced past Oklahoma Panhandle State (4-0) and Texas Wesleyan (2-0) with consecutive shutouts before falling 2-1 at third-ranked Mid-America Christian in Wednesday's conference title match.
The selection continues a resurgence in John Brown's national championship history, giving the Golden Eagles consecutive appearances for the first time since the 2002 and 2003 seasons. JBU returned to the national stage in 2025 after a six-year absence, advancing to the Round of 16 following a penalty-kick shootout victory over 10th-seeded William Carey in the second round. The Golden Eagles subsequently made their first appearance at the championship's final site under the modern tournament format, falling to seventh-seeded MidAmerica Nazarene in Orange Beach, Ala.
The Golden Eagles assembled a résumé strengthened by one of the NAIA's most challenging schedules, entering the national selection process ranked 17th in Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) and 11th in strength of schedule. John Brown also finished fourth in the South Area Rating Committee's final rankings, positioning itself among the region's leading national tournament candidates.
Among the team's signature results were two September road victories over nationally ranked opponents, beginning with a 3-0 shutout of No. 25 Xavier (La.) on Sept. 4. Three days later, the Blue and Gold defeated No. 18 LSU Shreveport by a 1-0 margin, adding another significant result to a schedule that featured multiple nationally competitive programs.
John Brown's success this season has been built around a balanced attack and a defense that has limited opponents to 14 goals in 18 matches. The Golden Eagles have outscored opponents 36-14 while recording nine shutouts, including six matches in which they scored at least three goals.
Senior midfielder Constantin Bauer has paced the offensive effort with eight goals and seven assists for a team-leading 23 points, including four game-winning goals. Fellow senior Marco Brizuela has contributed five goals and seven assists for 17 points, while senior goalkeeper Juan Almanza has anchored the defensive unit with a 10-5-1 record, 37 saves and a 0.88 goals-against average.
Marian enters the national tournament with a 15-3-3 record following its first Crossroads League Tournament championship, secured with a 3-2 road victory over fifth-ranked Indiana Wesleyan on Wednesday (Nov. 11). The Knights, ranked 20th in the final NAIA National Selection Committee poll, overcame deficits of 1-0 and 2-1 in the title match before Matthew Manton delivered the winner in the 84th minute.
The 68th annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championship features 40 teams competing across 16 opening-round campus sites Nov. 19-21. The top eight seeds each host a three-team grouping, with two visiting teams meeting in the first round Nov. 19 before the winner advances to face the host in the second round Nov. 21. The remaining eight sites feature two-team matchups, with seeds Nos. 9-16 paired against another qualifier in a single second-round contest. Each of the 16 second-round winners advances to the championship's final site at the Orange Beach Sportsplex in Orange Beach, Ala., where competition runs Nov. 30-Dec. 7.
Kickoff time, ticket information, live statistics and live video coverage for John Brown's second-round matchup at Marian will be announced as details become available. Additional championship information is available through the NAIA's official men's soccer championship website.
FOLLOW THE GOLDEN EAGLES
Don't miss a minute of the latest action surrounding JBU Athletics by following the Golden Eagles on Facebook (/JBUathletics), Instagram (@JBUathletics) and X (@JBUathletics). Catch every Golden Eagle home game and select away games on the SAC Sports Network, available online or for download on your favorite streaming device.
