SALEM, Ore. – The No. 14-ranked Corban men's soccer team has had a historic season in 2019, and the squad will have an opportunity to continue its magical fall at this weekend's NAIA Opening Round, hosted in Salem at Willamette University's Sparks Field.

Three of the top teams in the west will clash, but only one will earn a trip to the NAIA Final Site in Irvine, Calif.

The Warriors will serve as the No. 1 seed of the three-team tournament, with Menlo College seeded second, and UC Merced seeded third.

The NAIA Opening Round will feature a slightly different format than in years past, as Menlo and UC Merced will battle today at 1 p.m. to determine which team will advance to play the Warriors on Saturday.

The winner of tomorrow's battle will head to the NAIA Final Site, hosted in Irvine, Calif. on December 2-7.

No. 25-ranked Menlo earned a spot in this year's national tournament by virtue of its Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC) Tournament title. The Oaks downed Ottawa University (Ariz.) in thrilling fashion to seal their spot, advancing via penalty kicks.

Menlo possesses plenty of firepower, headlined by its trio of All-GSAC award-winners. Tim Staerz led the team in goals (11) and points (29) this fall, while Giovanny Gomes (nine goals, three assists) and Michael Weber (two goals, six assists) anchored the Oaks' midfield.

It'll be the third-straight NAIA Opening Round appearance for (RV) UC Merced, who received an automatic bid after claiming the California Pacific Conference (Cal Pac) Regular-Season Championship.

The Bobcats earned an impressive eight All-Conference honorees in 2019, led by Cal Pac Player of the Year Marcos Ceballos and First-Team honorees Miguel Coronado, Agustin Guerrero, Rodolfo Prado, and Marco Sobrevilla.

The Oaks and Bobcats matched up once during the 2019 season, with UC Merced claiming a 1-0 victory behind an early 12^th-minute goal from Bryan Henriquez Rivera.

The Warriors will face the winner of Friday's matchup on Saturday at 3 p.m., seeking their second-straight trip to Irvine. On the offensive end, conference Newcomer of the Year Matheus Giron (14 goals, eight assists) figures to play a crucial role, part of a dangerous attacking ensemble that features Yuki Onishi (eight goals, seven assists), Charles Cleyton (nine goals, four assists), and Camilo Avendano (six goals, 15 assists), among others.

In goal, Corban will once again rely upon Second-Team All-Conference selection Justin Keegan, who has compiled an 8-0-1 record and a trio of shutouts in 2019.

Live stats/video for each of this weekend's games will be available HERE.