FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – December 1st, 2025
 
Orange Beach, Ala.| The Knights faced off against the number seven-ranked LSU Shreveport in the Round of Sixteen of the NAIA National Tournament and in a shootout, took the win 1(4)- 1(3).

The Alabama weather suited the Knights just fine tonight as they had to play the game in a torrential downpour. It was as if they had never left the great state of Oregon where they had come from. LSU Shreveport broke the ice early in the 16th minute when Jack Thomas knocked in an absolute beauty of a shot past a stunned Owen Purvis. He scored the team's lone goal and the only strong shot of the four shots taken. The game after the first goal was very even with both teams having multiple opportunities to score but were unable to do so. The Knights had seven total shots and relied on their defense to keep LSU Shreveport from finding consistent scoring opportunities early.

Finally, with just over seven minutes remaining, Warner responded with who else but their captain Bodo Calderon who has come through time and time again his whole career as a Knight. It was a free kick from the left hash and with the wall set up in front of Bodo blocking the entire left side of the goal, Calderon curled the ball from left to right around the wall and snuck it into the very left side of the net where all the Pilots keeper could do was watch it go past as his weight was committed to the right half of the goal. Both teams drew the rest of the period, and the game would go to overtime. Both teams in the first overtime couldn't get much action going, and the game continued on into the second overtime with the score still knotted up at one apiece. In the second overtime, LSU Shreveport put on a solid attack late in the period earning a couple corner kicks but couldn't hit pay dirt, and the Knights were able to hold it down defensively to put the game into penalty kicks. Bodo Calderon, Mario Jauregui, Damian Palominos, and to finish it out El Wicho Gonzalez all scored, giving the Knights a 4-3 PK lead with the Pilots getting one last opportunity to get one past Owen Purvis and keep the game going. 

Caleb Marchany was the last hope for the Pilots, and he was not able to make the shot. The shot went off the left post and back across the middle hitting Purvis' foot just right where it stayed out of the net and gave the Knights the victory. Purvis finished with four saves on five shots during the game and then more importantly saved two penalty shots to put the game on ice. It is almost fitting with the way the Knights have been playing stellar defense during this stretch of seven wins in a row that this game would be won on the defensive side of the ball.

Next Up
There are now eight teams remaining in the entire country, and the Warner Pacific Knights are one of those squads. They will now enjoy two days of rest and will get ready to square off against the University of the Cumberlands out of Williamsburg, Kentucky. The contest will be at 11am pacific time and will be played at Orange Beach Sportsplex.