November 25 (1978)

Quincy College wins its eighth NAIA national championship, and fifth in six seasons, by defeating Alabama-Huntsville, 2-0, in Huntsville. As usual, Quincy’s Hawks are loaded with St. Louis players, and Huntsville fields four from the St. Louis area. Quincy coach and St. Louis native Jack Mackenzie tells his Hawks before the match that Huntsville is slow to organize its defense against free kicks near its goal. Sure enough, the Hawks open the scoring when two St. Louisans connect on a rapid restart. Mike DiRaimondo serves a quick, short free kick to Pat Howley, whose low shot is fumbled into the Huntsville net by the goalkeeper. Another of the Hawks’ St. Louis players, Steve Melsheimer, notches the insurance goal 32 minutes into the second half. Quincy goalkeeper Eric Delabar posts his 12th shutout. Delabar, defender Tim Werner and forward Bob Radice — all St. Louisans — are named to the all-tournament team. Radice, a senior who didn’t record a goal or an assist in the tournament, is nevertheless named its most valuable player. “Bob was a constant threat down there,” Mackenzie tells Quincy Herald-Whig sportswriter Chuck Brady. “He drew defenders out to the wings and was a constant threat . . . He made the center backs cover lots more ground, and that helped open things up inside.” Quincy will be rated fifth in the nation among all college teams, whether affiliated with the NAIA or NCAA, in the season’s final rankings by the National Soccer Coaches Association of America. The Hawks will go on to win the next three NAIA national titles, giving them an NAIA-record 11 championships, all but two with Mackenzie as head coach.