Back on August 20, the first day of practice for the fall sports season, Lancaster Bible College Men's Soccer Head Coach Josh Beers thought there was a chance his team would perform well enough to take the program to the next level. Things would need to fall into place, but it could happen.

Fast forward to Langhorne, Pa. on October 30 when the Chargers wrapped up their first NCCAA East Region title by defeating arch-rival Philadelphia Biblical University 1-0 on a goal by sophomore Lawrence Lartey. The program had taken its step to the next level and had punched its ticket to this weekend's NCCAA National Championships in Kissimmee, Florida.

"I knew we had the potential to be a good team, I just didn't know if it was going to happen this year," Beers said. "We are excited as a program about how we took the step. Going to PBU and winning and competing the way we have all year long, that's what has us excited."

The problem with being new to the national stage is whether or not this weekend is icing on the cake for the team or if they are going there to win.

"We have a nice balance of enjoyment in what we have accomplished and the thought that we aren't done yet," Beers said. "If we are satisfied with what we have done so far, then there is no reason to go to Florida. We may never get this chance again, and that is what the coaching staff is trying to get the guys to buy into."

With the Chargers hitting their stride during the later part of the season, (LBC has won six in a row and hasn't allowed a goal since the middle of October) one might wonder if the two week layoff between regionals and nationals was a good thing.

"Whenever you go 14 days without playing, certainly there is a wonder of what will happen and if there is rust," Beers said. "It was good to get guys healthy however and the as always the first 15-20 minutes is critical for us."

LBC's quarter-final opponent is Southeastern University from Lakeland, Florida. They receieved an at-large bid to the tournament after falling 1-0 to South Region Champion Clearwater Christian. Not having seen them play this season, the players will have to trust Beers, who has seen this team and others like it at nationals before when he was a coach at Northland University.

"Teams down there play a similar style to PBU," Beers said. "We will have to tap into our experiences from this season when we played Albright, Goucher and Lycoming."

Southeastern lost to Providence College last season in the National Semi-finals. In 2007, they lost in the National Finals to Manhattan Christian 2-1 in overtime and in 2006, they won the National Championship, defeating PBU 1-0.

"They are a well rounded group with lots of experience," Beers said. "They have an excellent coach and play a strong brand of soccer."

With that being the case, Beers said his team once again will relish the underdog role.

"They feel the pressure and we don't," Beers said. "We are the underdog again and we feel very comfortable in that role."

Beers reiterated that the first 20 minutes will tell a lot about how the Chargers will perform on the national stage.

"We have to settle in and get by those opening 15 or 20 minutes," Beers said. "For us to win, we need to keep taking pride in individual matchups and create chances for ourselves."

Beers said the team knows its identity and has to play as a unit.

"We know our offense will create chances, but can we capitalize on those chances," Beers said. "Our defense has been really solid and they always give us a chance to win."

When asked what he will tell his team Friday night before they take the field, Beers said the bigger the game, the less he talks.

"I just want them to have fun and enjoy the moment," Beers said. "If we are tight and can't enjoy it, we shouldn't be there. We play our best when we are relaxed."

Notes:

-Game time is set for Friday night at 7:45 p.m.

-Southeastern is 9-11 on the year, LBC is 15-6.

-Southeastern has scored 43 goals this season, while allowing 39.

-LBC has scored 56 goals this season and allowed 27.

-Southeastern has finished fourth or better at nationals in four of the last five years.

-Manhattan Christian, the number two seed, has won back-to-back national championships and three of the last four.

-This is Southeastern's last season competing in the NCCAA.

-Southeastern's women's soccer team is the number one seed in the Women's Division II Bracket.

-The LBC/Southeastern winner will face the winner of the Providence/Southwest Christian game. The losers will meet in the other game.

-LBC goalkeeper Jake Kreider hasn't allowed a goal in 395:46, which is just over 6 1/2 hours of soccer. The last ball to get by Kreider was on October 14 against Christendom early in the second half of a 5-1 Charger victory.