Nov. 18, 2012

Fairleigh Dickinson 2, Saint Louis 1
ST. LOUIS - Fairleigh Dickinson's Jack McVey scored in the 103rd minute to lift the Knights to a 2-1, double overtime victory against the Saint Louis Billikens Sunday in an NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship second-round matchup at Hermann Stadium.

SLU ends its season at 16-5, the most wins by a Billiken squad since the 2001 team won 18 games. FDU (11-5-6) advances to face the winner of UMBC and North Carolina next weekend in the third round of the NCAA Championship.

McVey's golden goal came at the 102:43 mark. Antony Moore had the ball on the right side, and he lofted a ball into the box that found McVey, who headed it from approximately 12 yards and into the upper right corner.

It was the only shot of the overtime session for FDU. The Billikens seemed to control play in the first overtime period, registering two shots.

After a scoreless first half, the Knights opened the scoring when Jan Aubert scored at the 55:51 mark. He connected on a Moore pass to make it 1-0 FDU.

The Billikens continued to press and broke through in the 73rd minute on a goal by Robbie Kristo. William Hidalgo and Jon Roeckle played the ball to Kristo, who headed it into the upper left corner for the equalizer.

SLU out-shot the Knights 12-9 and held a 7-1 advantage in corner kicks. SLU goalie Nick Shackelford made fives saves, including several sensational stops in the first half to keep the game scoreless.

Indiana 4, Xavier 1
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. - The Xavier men's soccer season that included a record for most wins came to an end on Sunday after a 4-1 loss to Indiana in the NCAA Men's Soccer Championship Second Round at Bill Armstrong Stadium.

The Musketeers' (14-3-5) lone goal came from junior Matt Walker who tallied his 11th goal of the season in the 33rd minute. Nikita Kotlov scored a hat trick for the Hoosiers (12-5-3) who advance to face top-seeded Notre Dame in the third round on Sunday.

Xavier held even with the seven-time national champion in the first half and had several scoring opportunities including Walker's equalizers in the 33rd minute. His goal came off one of the seven corner kicks the Musketeers had in the first half.

Junior Gino De Paoli's service was cleared to Cohen whose attempt at a shot went to senior Luke Spencer just outside the corner of the six-yard box. Spencer, the A-10 leading scorer, quickly dropped the ball to Walker who ripped a shot to the near post for the score

Despite the outcome Xavier battled head-to-head with the Hoosiers until late when they attempted to come back from a 2-1 deficit.

The Musketeers came close to the score when Will Walker ran underneath a long pass and hit an attempt that went over the crossbar with the goalie coming out of net.

Indiana then added goals from Femi Hollinger-Janzen and Kotlov's third of the match late. Kotlov had scores in the 18th, 68th and 83rd minutes. His first goal hit the far post and snuck into goal before Adar Cohen could clear it off the line. Kotlov's second came on a curling shot from the corner of the penalty box into the upper 90 and his last was a tap in on a counter attack.

Xavier finished the match with seven shots with only one coming after the first half. Indiana fired 11 total shots including six on net to XU's four.

Justin Marshall made one save in his appearance in goal for Xavier. Luis Soffner made three saves in the victory for IU. Spencer led all Xavier players with three shots and also had two shots on goal along with Matt Walker. Kotlov had a game-high four shots for IU.

The campaign was a banner year for the Musketeers who bested the previous win total by two and had school records for assists and points. Xavier's win against Kentucky in the first round of the tournament was the program's first in addition to the at-large bid the team received.

It was the final match for Spencer, Marshall, Cohen, Sean Ryan, Andre Bezerra and James Queree. The six players reached three NCAA Tournaments, won two Atlantic 10 Championships and helped Xavier set numerous records.

Georgetown 1, Charlotte 0
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The 23rd-ranked Charlotte men's soccer team saw its 2012 season come to an end after falling to 6th-ranked Georgetown, 1-0 at North Kehoe Field, Sunday afternoon in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

It was the first meeting between both teams in a lively match but sixth-seeded Georgetown (18-3-1) capitalized off a corner kick in the 43rd minute. Freshman Brandon Allen netted his 14th goal that flicked from the near post off the corner kick. Steve Neumann recorded his 12th assist of the season off Allen's goal. Keegan Rosenberry was also credited on the assist.

After a scrappy first half in which both teams fought for possession, Charlotte led the offensive attack in the second half.

Charlotte (15-4-3) took six of its eight shots in the second half but the Hoya's defense remained firm to keep the 49ers off the board. Klay Davis recorded one save in the match.

The Hoyas also registered eight shots. Goalie Tomas Perez tallied two saves.

"It took us a while to figure out what type of game it was going to be," Charlotte head coach Kevin Langan said. "The goals just didn't fall for us today but it wasn't because it was a lack of effort. The guys were incredible."

When mentioning the Charlotte 49ers, it's imperative to point out their impeccable senior class. The careers of Jennings Rex, Donnie Smith, Isaac Caughran, Owen Darby, and Aaron Weldon have surely been an addition and helped with the advancement of the program.

Rex ended the season with a team-leading 11 goals. He also recorded 23 points. Smith finished with four goals and four assists. Smith was also named Atlantic 10 Midfielder of the Year. Caughran recorded six assists and one goal in his final season while Darby finished with two goals and two assists. Weldon was named to the first team All-Atlantic 10 first team and has been instrumental for the 49ers in a backfield that recorded eight shutouts during the season.

"These five seniors have been a phenomenal group of players," Langan said. "They've completely transformed this program and they leave behind a great tradition of success."

Charlotte is now 7-6-4 all-time in the NCAA Tournament. Their season includes being nationally-ranked all year along with several individual accolades and honors.

"It's been an amazing season," Langan said. "Winning 15 collegiate games and finishing as the A-10 regular season champs, especially with the conference being as strong as was this year has been amazing."

Syracuse 3, VCU 2
THE BASICS: Syracuse's Louis Clark found the net with just over two minutes left in double overtime to hand No. 19 VCU a heartbreaking 3-2 loss in the second round of the NCAA College Cup Sunday night at Sports Backers Stadium. Sophomore Juan Monge Solano and freshman Dennis Castillo each found the net for the Rams.

HOW IT HAPPENED:
• VCU (12-4-5) went on top 1-0 in the ninth minute. Following a foul on Syracuse, Monge Solano fired a free kick from 40 yards out that bent into the left corner of the net.
• The Rams were at it again five minutes later after Syracuse was called for a handball inside the box. Castillo, who finished the season 3-for-3 in penalty kicks, stepped into the box and deposited the PK into the right corner to extend VCU's lead to 2-0.
• Syracuse (14-6-0) eventually fired its first shot of the night in the 17th minute but VCU redshirt junior goalkeeper Andrew Wells was there for the stop.
• The Orange cut VCU's lead in half in the 21st minute. Louis Clark drove through the box and put a shot on frame, which deflected off of Wells and into the right corner of the net to make it 2-1.
• Syracuse had a chance to tie the match in the 26th minute when Clark sent a header towards the goal, but senior Brad Seymour stepped in front to earn the team save.
• The Orange eventually found the equalizer in the 30th minute. Clark sent a pass to Stefanos Stamoulactos, whose shot deflected off of Wells and trickled into the left corner of the goal to knot the match 2-2.
• VCU had an opportunity to retake the lead in the 31st minute but Syracuse goalkeepr Alex Bono made a stop on a strike from sophomore Jose Manel. Wells then collected his second save of the night on a shot from Stamoulacatos four minutes later.
• Bono continued his strong play in the net, making key saves in the 67th, 68th, and 74th minutes, but perhaps his biggest stop of the night came just before the end of regulation. Following a corner kick in the 90th minute, Monge Solano sent a header towards the net but Bono leaped and made the save to keep the match tied.
• The Rams had a pair of chances in the first overtime. In the 92nd minute, freshman Devon Fisher's shot was blocked. The deflection found Monge Solano, but his shot was just wide.
• Syracuse finally scored the game-winner with just over two minutes left in the second overtime. Ted Cribley sent a pass to Clark, who drove the box and finished in the right corner.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE:
• Monge Solano scored his first goal of the season, while Castillo added his sixth for VCU.
• The Rams, who received a national seed and first-round bye, made their first appearance in the College Cup since 2004.
• VCU finished the season with 12 victories, its most since 2007, and most under third-year head coach Dave Giffard.
• The Rams posted double-digit wins in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2003-04.
• Three of VCU's four losses this season came in double overtime.
• VCU's four losses are its fewest since 2003.