The MBU women's soccer team has drawn the number one seeded Lindsey Wilson College (Columbia, Ky.) in the 2009 NAIA Women's Soccer National Championship Opening Round. This will mark the first ever appearance by the MBU Lady Spartans(12-7-1) in the NAIA National Tournament. It will be the Blue Raiders' (17-2-2) ninth consecutive appearance, their eleventh in program history.

The unseeded Lady Spartans will face a big challenge in knocking off the top seeded Blue Raiders. Lindsey Wilson won the NAIA National Title in 2004 and 2006. They are riding an 18 game unbeaten streak into the Opening Round contest. But, Missouri Baptist is not intimidated.

"On any game day, anything can happen, and we will not change who we are based on who we play," said MBU Head Coach Deno Merrick. "We will remain MBU all throughout our journey at the tournament." 

In just Merrick's third season at the head of the soccer proram, he led the Lady Spartans to the American Midwest Conference Tournament Title last Thursday. The upset win over the 10th ranked McKendree University Bearcats qualified MBU for its berth in the NAIA National Championship Opening Round. The Bearcats have drawn the National Tournament's 11th seed, and will host Midland Lutheran (Neb.) in the Opening Round.

MBU's Opening Round game, (one of sixteen across the nation), will take place Saturday, November 21st at Walter S. Reuling Stadium in Columbia, Ky. Kickoff time has yet to be announced. Saturday's winner will advance to the NAIA National Championship November 30 - December 5 in Decatur, Alabama.