BUIES CREEK, N.C. – Third-seeded
Lipscomb scored twice in the first 16 minutes and went on to defeat
Mercer 2-1 Wednesday in the first round of the Atlantic Sun
Conference men's soccer championship at the Eakes Athletic Complex.
Belmont twice rallied from two-goal
deficits and ousted fourth-seeded Stetson 4-3 in double overtime on
Wade Wonderlin's penalty kick in the 106th minute.
The Bisons (10-8-2) will take
on second-seeded Jacksonville in Thursday's 4:00 p.m.
semifinal. Belmont (11-7-2)
faces top-seeded and host Campbell Thursday at 7:00 p.m.
A-Sun Freshman of the Year
Garret Pettis scored his league-leading 12th goal of the year in
the fifth minute when he knocked in a rebounded shot from Miguel
DaSilva.
Andrew Chamberlain doubled
the lead in the 16th minute on a sharp angle shot from the right
side of the area.
Sixth-seeded Mercer (2-11-5)
was unable to get a shot off for the first 58 minutes of play, but
drew within one on a 65th minute counter attack. Bolade Ogunmade headed on Richard
Wimsatt's clearance at half field and Arkenson Neckles finished the
sequence on a right-footed shot from outside the top right corner
of the box.
Lipscomb finished with a 16-5
edge in shots, 10-0 in the first period, and a 7-2 advantage in
shots on goal.
Stetson (8-7-2) went in front
2-0 thanks to goals from Fredrik Brustad in the 17th minute and Dan
Sackman in the 25th.
Belmont cut the lead to one at 58:10
on Dan Meacock's counter attack goal. However, Stetson regained the edge
just 35 seconds later when Gonzalo de Mujica collected a loose ball
at the top of the area and tallied his fifth strike of the
season.
The Bruins, however, rallied
on Meacock's 70th minute volley – his 10th goal of the year
– from Edgardo Padilla's service. Belmont then equalized with just 2:18
remaining in regulation on Brett Parker's header that just barely
broke the goal line.
Wonderlin's penalty was set up when Robert Hodge fouled Will Moorad
in the box. Stetson keeper
Marc Galizia dove to his right and Wonderlin sent the ball straight
down the middle of the goal.
