The Bethel College men's soccer team enters the 2008 NAIA National Championship for the seventh time in 10 years with their last appearance coming in 2005 when they knocked off the tournament host Embry-Riddle University in the opening game. The Pilots' second opponent that year was the University of Rio Grande. The familiarity with Rio doesn't stop there for Bethel head coach Greg Gidman, as the Bethel leader faced Rio many times when he coached in the AMC Conference prior to his arrival at Bethel.

Once again, coach Gidman and the Pilots will face Rio Grande University. This time, the match will take place in the 2008 National Championship Opening Round held at Rio Grande this Saturday starting at 3:00 pm.

The winners of the Opening Round games, as well as host school Fresno Pacific (Calif.), will advance to the 50^th Annual Men's Soccer National Championship final site from Dec. 1-6 in Fresno, Calif.

This year's 31 teams include 25 automatic qualifiers (conferences/independents champions), five at-large bids and the host school. No. 1 Lindsey Wilson (Ky.) is making its 16^th appearance, the most of any school in the field.

The Bethel College Pilots feature a balance of young and old players. The Pilots boast the Mid-Central College Conference Offensive Player of the Year in Midfielder Arron Patrick and 1^st Team All-Conference Keeper Scott Terry.

The Pilots have faced one other National Championship participant in No. 1 seed Oklahoma City University. The Pilots fell to the Stars by the score of 6-2 in an early season match at the John Brown University Tournament. Oklahoma City opens up by hosting McPherson (Kan.). The Stars are 17-2-1 on the year.

Rio Grande University enters the tournament as the No. 2 seed. The Red Storm sat atop the NAIA Top 25 poll for five weeks this season and were recently rated as high as No. 5 in the country but dropped this week to No. 12 after losing in the AMC conference tournament.

The Opening Round match will be broadcast via the internet and can be heard by visiting Rio Grande University's website at http://athletics.rio.edu/