Soccer Defeats Georgia State for Regular Season Title; Will be Top Seed at SBC Tournament
Atlanta - It took a little longer than expected, but the Coastal Carolina men's soccer team defeated Georgia State 3-1 and in the process won the Sun Belt Conference's regular season title. Along with the championship, the Chanticleers will be the top seed next week in the conference tournament which will be held in Conway at the CCU Soccer Stadium.
The two teams were able to get the opening 45 minutes in the book, but a weather delay of two hours pushed the start of the second half back to an almost 10 p.m. start.
CCU started the scoring in the first half on a Tyrone Mondi goal and Ryan Willoughby assist in the 33rd minute. That lead did not last long as the host Panthers evened the score at one just six minutes later.
CCU landed a blow late in the half with an unassisted goal from Alex Ierides in the 41st minute. It was a goal that turned out to be the match-winner.
After the extra-long break, Miguel Gutierrez was able to give the Chants some breathing room with a penalty kick in the 52rd minute to complete the scoring.
Georgia State outshot CCU 16-15 with both teams having six shots on goal.
Braulio Linares-Ortiz played in goal for 90 minutes allowing the one goal. He finished the night with five saves.
The regular season title is CCU's 14th conference championship and the Chants will look to secure its 14th conference tournament title with its second consecutive Sun Belt Conference Tournament Championship. With another tourney title, the Chants would move on to its 15th NCAA appearance.
The Chants will enter the tournament with a 10-6-1 overall record and the top Sun Belt record at 4-1. CCU will also enter the tournament as the league's hottest team going its last seven matches without a loss, finishing the season with a 6-0-1 record during that period.
CCU will receive an opening round bye and will play the winner of Thursday's match between No. 4 Hartwick and No. 5 Howard. The semifinal match for CCU will be Friday, Nov. 10 at 7 p.m.
Viewing and live stat options for the tournament will be found at goccusports.com.
For complete coverage of CCU men's soccer, follow the Chants on social media @CoastalMSoccer (twitter), facebook.com/CCUChanticleers (facebook), @GoCCUSports (Instagram) or visit the official home of Coastal Carolina Athletics at goccusports.com.
-
GS Men's Soccer Blanks Appalachian State, 2-0, In Regular Season Finale
BOONE, N.C. - The Georgia Southern men's soccer squad defeated Appalachian State, 2-0, in Sun Belt Conference action on Saturday night in its regular season finale. The Eagles wrap up the 2017 season riding a three-match win streak and will be the No. 3 seed in next week's Sun Belt Conference tournament.
The Eagles (9-7, 3-2 SBC) will face tonight's opponent, sixth-seeded Appalachian State (5-8-5, 0-3-2 SBC), on Thursday, November 9th, at a time to be determined in the first round of the 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's Soccer Championships in Conway, S.C. Host Coastal Carolina is the No. 1 seed and Georgia State is the No. 2 seed, and both teams will receive first-round byes.
The win on Saturday also clinches the first winning season for Georgia Southern men's soccer since the 2006 campaign, and head coach John Murphy has now directed his third different school to a winning record in just his second season at the respective institution (Assumption, 1999 & Anderson (SC), 2013).
Neither team was able to register a shot in the first 20 minutes of the match. Blake Wilson had a header saved by Appalachian State goalkeeper Jake Agnew at the 21 minute mark, then the Eagles had a few more shots before a handball in the box set up the first goal of the match, a penalty kick that was converted by Javier Carbonell in the 37th minute, his third goal of the year, for the 1-0 lead.
The Eagles got a crucial second goal just before halftime as Carbonell delivered a corner kick into the box, and Emil Laursen emerged from a crowd to head the ball into goal with just two seconds left in the half at the 44:58 mark. It was the junior's first goal of the season. Georgia Southern outshot the Mountaineers 6-0 in the first half to take the two-goal lead into the break.
In the second half, the Mountaineers got their first shot in the 50th minute on a header by Michael Davidson that was saved by Robert Flott. The Eagles kept up the pressure with shots by Carbonell and Josh Bronstorph forcing saves from Appalachian State. Flott's second save, on a header by Justin Pruitt in the 73rd chance, would be the last time the Mountaineers would get a shot on goal on the evening.
"It was a real complete performance by us on the road," Coach Murphy said. "Appalachian State was exactly what we thought they would be. They have a good group of young players, and the future is bright for them. It was a hard game, but the way we possessed the ball as a foundation to create some great chance was outstanding. Their goalkeeper made three great saves in the first half, but to have a two-goal lead at halftime at this level is fantastic. And then to have the resiliency and defensive concentration to see the game out in the second half. I'm very pleased with the overall 90 minute performance in a crucial time of the year."
The Eagles finished the match with a 9-6 edge in shots. Agnew made five saves in net for the Mountaineers, while Flott made a pair of saves to record his second shutout of the season for the Eagles. Georgia Southern had a 7-4 advantage in corner kicks and the Eagles were whistled for 12 fouls, compared to five for Appalachian State. each team was offsides once on the night.
Georgia Southern now turns its attention to the Sun Belt tournament, seeking its first conference tournament title in program history. Coach Murphy and the team are excited at what next week will bring in Conway.
"I think we feel confident," Coach Murphy said. "We feel like we're as good as any team in the conference. However, the other teams can say the same thing. It should be a very competitive tournament, and a great showcase for our conference. We will be prepared and focused on Thursday's game, and whatever happens after that, happens."
-
Men’s Soccer Closes Regular Season With 1-1 Draw at Howard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Hartwick's men's soccer team secured a road point at Howard to finish up its regular season Saturday. Jamie O'Grady (Falkirk, Scotland/Falkirk HS) scored to open the scoring near the midway point of the second half, but the Bison would answer with less than five minutes remaining in regulation to even the score.
The Hawks finish up the regular season with a 7-8-2 overall mark. They end up 2-2-1 in the Sun Belt and secure the No. 4 seed for the upcoming conference playoffs in Conway, SC. 'Wick will get another crack at topping the Bison as Howard earns the No. 5 seed in the tournament.
Hartwick held a huge advantage in shots in the opening half, 10-1. Despite the disparity, the game entered halftime at a stalemate, 0-0.
O'Grady put the Hawks in front in the 67th minute with his league-leading 14th goal of the season. Kyle Honor (Setauket, NY/Ward Melville) provided the assist.
The Hawks were just five minutes away from claiming the victory until the 86th minute when Brandon Hood found the net to even the score. Neither team could muster the game-winner in overtime and the game ended 0-0.
The Hawks finished with a 16-9 advantage in shots. The Bison held the edge in the second half, 7-4. 'Wick had two of the three shots of the two 10-minute overtime periods.
O'Grady would register eight of the Hawks' shots on the day, including five which were on target. Hamish Ritchie (Aberdeen, Scotland/Aboyne Academy) fired four shots for the Hawks. Kane O'Neill (Lochwinnoch, Scotland/Gryffe) had two.
Lenny Wilson (Aberdeen, Scotland/Cults Academy) was called upon to make two saves in the Hawks' goal. Howard's Carlos Caro made six saves for Howard.
Hartwick and Howard will play Thursday, November 9 in the quarterfinal round of the Sun Belt playoffs, hosted by Coastal Carolina University. Kickoff will be 7 p.m.
-
Soccer Ends Regular Season With Tie On Senior Day
WASHINGTON (November 4, 2017) – Coach Phillip Gyau and the Howard University Men's Soccer team tied with conference rival Hartwick, 1-1, at Greene Stadium.
Before the contest, five Bison played their final match at The Mecca and were recognized for their hard work and dedication to the men's soccer program: Kyle Celestine; Jonathan Chang; Nigel Grant; Isaac Mbappe; and Austin Williams.
After a scoreless first half, the Hawks' Jamie O'Grady scored at the 66-minute mark, 1-0.
With less than five minutes remaining, sophomore forward Brandon Hood tied the match with an unassisted goal, 1-1.
After two 10-minute periods, both squads settled in a tie.
Defensively, Carlos Caro recorded a match-high six saves in the victory.
Bison's (1-14-3, 0-3-2 SBC) next stop is Conway, S.C. for the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) Tournament where they enter as the No. 5 seed. HU opens tourney play with the No. 4 Hawks Thursday. Match time is set for 7 p.m. on ESPN3.
For more information, visit the Bison Athletics website at www.HUBison.com.
-
PANTHERS FALL IN REGULAR SEASON FINALE
ATLANTA- The Georgia State men's soccer team fell 3-1 to Coastal Carolina Saturday night in the regular season finale.
With the loss, the Panthers fell to 11-6-1 (3-1-1 SBC) and the Chanticleers improved to 10-6-4 (4-1 SBC).
Both offenses were stagnated in the rain to start the match, but Coastal Carolina was able to go up 1-0 at the 32-minute mark. Senior Jad Elkhalil was able to quickly tie the match, scoring his first of the season off an assist from Rashid Alarape.
Coastal Carolina went up again with five minutes remaining in the first, scoring off a rebound of a save from Yannic Horn.
Coming out of a two hour rain delay, the Chanticleers drew a foul in the box and earned a pentalty kick to put the game away in the the 51st minute. The Panthers were able to put up 16 shots with six on target, but the Coastal Carolina defense kept GSU out of the net.
"It was an interesting evening with the way the weather and field conditions were," head coach Brett Surrency said. "I thought we played great soccer in the first half and created plenty of chances to win the game, but unfortunately it didn't go our way. We'll lick our wounds and get some rest over the next few days and be prepared to play whoever advacnes to the quarterfinals on Friday."
The Panthers finished second in the conference and will play as the No. 2 seed in the conference tournament, earning a bye and playing the winner of the No. 3/No. 6 match Friday. in Conway, S.C.
Follow along with Georgia State on Twitter (@GSUMensSoccer) for the latest news and updates.
-
Mountaineers Suffer Home Setback to Georgia Southern
BOONE, N.C. - Appalachian State University men's soccer (5-8-5, 0-3-2 SBC) suffered a 2-0 setback to Georgia Southern (9-7, 3-2 SBC) on Senior Night at Ted Mackorell Soccer Complex.
The Mountaineers will await their opponent for the 2017 Sun Belt Tournament, which will begin on Thursday, Nov. 9 in Conway, S.C.
Both of the goals that Appalachian allowed were unfortunate with Javier Carbonell scoring his fourth goal of the season on a penalty kick in the 36th minute, while GS scored with two seconds left in the first half to go up 2-0 going into the locker room.
Appalachian performed better in the second half with all six shots coming in the stanza and created numerous opportunities to get on the board. Justin Pruitt and Michael Davidson accounted for both of App's shot on goals. Jake Agnew recorded the start, playing in 70 minutes and totaling five saves. Mitch Kilmer played 20 minutes in the second half allowing zero goals. In 40 minutes of action over the last two matches, Kilmer has one save and zero scores permitted.
Before the contest, Jeremy Tshongo, John Walrath, Thibaut Arpinon and Kilmer were honored during Senior Night for their dedication and commitment to the men's soccer program.
Stay tuned as the official 2017 Sun Belt Tournament bracket is announced and ways to follow men's soccer in the tournament.