CLINTON, Miss. --- The Mississippi College men's soccer team won the 2014 National Christian College Athletic Association MidEast Region championship with a 2-0 victory over Bluefield College on Saturday afternoon at Robert P. Longabaugh Field.

"This is a great accomplishment for this team," said head coach Kevin Johns, who celebrated a birthday on Saturday. "We won two American Southwest Conference championships to close out our time in Division III, and this is the third straight year we have won a championship to close out the season. It's been great to watch this team continue to fight all season long."

The Mississippi College athletic department is ineligible for NCAA and Gulf South Conference championships while making the transition to Division II.

The Choctaws (12-5-1) got the scoring going early when senior Stephen Roberson scored his 9th goal of the season in the 7th minute on an assist from Luis Montes. Freshman goalkeeper Humberto Pelaez made four first-half saves against the Rams (12-8-1) to keep the match at 1-0 going into halftime.

In the second half, MC would control the pace of play, putting up 14 shots to just three for Bluefield. The Choctaws made it pay off in the 77th minute when senior Francisco DeAnda scored his 10th goal of the season and third of the regional.

Pelaez and the Choctaw defense recorded their eighth shutout of the season and fifth in the last six matches to clinch the victory. Oscar Hernandez made two saves for the Rams.

The Choctaws earned the automatic bid into the NCCAA national championship beginning December 1st in Kissimmee, Fla. MC went to the 9-team tournament last season, earning two draws in their matches.