CLINTON, Iowa - Only Mt. Mercy College stands in the way between the undefeated Ashford University men's soccer team and a date in the Midwest Collegiate Conference Tournament finals.

The top-seeded Saints will be hosting the fourth-seeded Mustangs on Sunday in Rock Island, Ill., for what should be a thrilling quarterfinal match.

The winner would advance to the conference tournament finals and face either No. 2 seed Viterbo University or No. 3 Grand View University.

Ashford is coming off a 2-0 quarterfinal win over St. Ambrose University last weekend. The Saints put a pair of goals in the net in the second half off the legs of junior Vedran Ilic of Rockford, Ill., and sophomore Nick De Backer of Antwerp, Belgium.

Mt. Mercy came out on top of a thrilling shootout, 6-5, in its quarterfinal match against Clarke College last weekend after letting a three-goal advantage slip away in the second half.

In a fierce defensive struggle, the Saints battled Mt. Mercy to a scoreless, double-overtime tie earlier this year (Sept. 15), going the full 110 minutes without a goal scored. AU first-year Head Coach Richard Markham is relishing the opportunity for another shot at the Mustangs.

"Anytime you get a shot at a team you've tied, I'd like to play them again," Markham said. "We've really grown as a unit and you're glad to see the top four seeds remaining in the tournament. Practice this week has been hard, but our players understand and our goal is to go as far as we can."

Two of the premier goalkeepers in the MCC will be dueling in AU's three-time league defensive player of the week Nick Roman of Belvidere, Ill., and Mt. Mercy's 6-3 Nenad Simovic.

Roman made seven saves and Simovic recorded three stops in the regular-season meeting.

"We've got two of the best defenses and goalkeepers going up against each other and it's going to come down midfield play and who can capitalize," Markham said.

Markham and the Saints want to prove their regular season MCC crown wasn't a fluke.

Ashford is knocking on the door of the top 20 and climbed up one spot in the NAIA Top-25 Polls this week to No. 24 with their sights set on reaching new heights.

"Every game we have played this year has meant something and we haven't taken any teams lightly," Markham added. "Against Upper Iowa, we finished off our undefeated season. Against Clarke (College), we played for the conference championship. Against St. Ambrose (University), we beat them for the first time in school history. Sunday's game is going to be a great one."

The MCC Championship game will be next Thursday, Nov. 12. For a complete tournament bracket, log on to www.midwestcollegiateconference.com.