PSAC Men's Soccer Championship: Slippery Rock Takes the Title
PSAC CHAMPIONSHIP: SLIPPERY ROCK EARNS 2OT WIN TO CLINCH CROWN
Courtesy of Slippery Rock Sports Information - full story
Erie, Pa. – The 24th ranked Slippery Rock men's soccer team won its seventh PSAC title in program history with a thrilling 3-2 double overtime win at No. 13 Mercyhurst Saturday in the league championship game.
Stephen Donnelly was named the tournament MVP after scoring two goals, including the game-winner, in Saturday's final and also converting his penalty kick attempt in the semifinal shootout over Millersville.
Donnelly took a pass from Brandon Chiu in front of the net and beat Mercyhurst keeper Mikko Sarkkinen into the lower right corner for the game-winner with 5:16 to play in the second overtime session.
The PSAC title is the seventh in program history and the first since 2009 for SRU. It is also the first for head coachMichael Bonelli, who has guided the team into the playoffs in three of his four years as head coach.
The win almost certainly cements Slippery Rock's place in the NCAA Tournament. The Rock was ranked No. 3 in this week's regional rankings and tied No. 5 Millersville in the PSAC semifinals Friday and defeated No. 3 Mercyhurst in the final Saturday.
It is very possible that SRU and Mercyhurst could renew their rivalry next weekend in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The selections, seeds and game dates will be announced in the NCAA Selection Show Monday night at 7 p.m. at www.NCAA.com.
Saturday's win was a reversal of last year's PSAC championship game, when Mercyhurst edged SRU 1-0 for the title on the same field.
The Lakers never led in Saturday's final as Slippery Rock scored early to go up 1-0 and regained a 2-1 lead after the Lakers tied the game.
Dom Francis opened the scoring in the 11th minute when he finished a crossing pass from Peter Boylan to put The Rock up 1-0.
Mercyhurst answered when the Lakers were awarded a free kick just outside the 18-yard box and Joseph Korb bent one with the wind into the upper corner to tie it at 1-1 in the 15th minute.
Slippery Rock, playing the first half into a strong head wind, regained the lead 2-1 when Donnelly hit a perfect free kick around the wall and into the upper left corner in the 34th minute.
That margin stood until the halftime break, but Mercyhurst wasted little time in tying the game in the second half. Jack Watson scored off a rebound from a Fernando Martinez shot just 2:23 into the period to even it at 2-2.
Both teams had outstanding chances throughout the rest of regulation, including a free kick from Francis that just missed the post for SRU, and a breakaway one-on-one for Mercyhurst that was stoned by Rock keeper Joe Agerskow.
Agerskow made the game-saving stop with just under 10 minutes to play in regulation and that save shifted the momentum. Mercyhurst was issued a red card shortly after and was forced to play down a man for the final 7:30 of regulation and overtime.
The Rock nearly won the game in the first overtime session when Francis broke free and beat Sarkkinen, but his shot hit the crossbar and managed to stay out.
Despite being down a man, Mercyhurst continued to press forward and had three chances in the opening 10 minute overtime, but The Rock defense withstood the challenge.
Slippery Rock, playing into the wind again in the second overtime, flipped the field and controlled much of the play, posting a 3-1 edge in shots.
After a steal in the Mercyhurst zone, Chiu worked forward in an odd-man break before passing to an open Donnelly in front for the game-winner.
Agerskow was outstanding all weekend, posting the shutout and making a stop in the shootout in the semifinals and finishing with five saves in Saturday's final.
Sarkkinen made two saves in the loss for the Lakers.
Mercyhurst was on the positive side of a skewed shot total that saw the Lakers with a 28-11 advantage in total shots. Only seven of those shots got through to the net.
Slippery Rock finished with five shots on goal and Mercyhurst had a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.
MEN’S SOCCER SEMIFINALS
Mercyhurst vs. West Chester
Erie, Pa. – Mercyhurst men’s soccer earned a 3-0 victory over No. 4 seed West Chester in the PSAC Men’s Soccer Championship Semifinals on Friday at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field.
Mercyhurst’s
Danny Deakin clinched the game-winner over Gannon in the 10
th minute for his 13
th goal of the season.
David Dougherty notched his first mark of the year in the 64
th minute, while
Jack Watson earned a goal in the 80
th minute.
The Lakers are gunning for the program’s second-straight league championship title, and will face Slippery Rock in the finals for a repeat of the 2012 title game. A year ago, Mercyhurst took a 1-0 win over The Rock to clinch the conference title.
Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock are set to play for the PSAC Championship on Saturday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field. Earlier this season, Mercyhurst defeated Slippery Rock 2-1 at Slippery Rock.
Mercyhurst Story
West Chester Story
Slippery Rock vs. Millersville
Erie, Pa. – Slippery Rock and Millersville battled to a 0-0 double overtime tie that resulted in a 4-3 penalty kick shoot out in The Rock’s favor on Friday afternoon in the PSAC Men’s Soccer Championship Semifinals hosted by Mercyhurst.
With the shoot out tied at three apiece, Slippery Rock’s
Ryan Lutke notched the winning penalty kick goal.
Stephen Donnelly,
Dom Francis,
Joshua Gray also made their penalty kick attempts for Slippery Rock.
Slippery Rock will play in its third PSAC title game in the last five seasons. The Rock clinched the title in 2009 after defeating Millersville 2-1 and fell a year ago to Mercyhurst 1-0 in the title game.
Mercyhurst and Slippery Rock are set to play for the PSAC Championship on Saturday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field. Earlier this season, Mercyhurst defeated Slippery Rock 2-1 at Slippery Rock.
Slippery Rock Story
Millersville Story
CHAMPIONSHIP PREVIEW
Mercyhurst, Pa. – Mercyhurst is set to host this weekend’s PSAC Men’s Soccer Championship semifinals and title game for the second straight season.
Mercyhurst received a bye into the semifinals and hosting rights for earning the top seed in the tournament with a 10-1 conference record. The Lakers are set to face No. 4 West Chester in the semifinals at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, November 8. West Chester defeated Shippensburg 1-0 in overtime in the quarterfinal round. In mid-September Mercyhurst defeated West Chester 3-1.
Fernando Martinez leads the Lakers offensively with 13 goals and 13 assists this season alongside
Danny Deakin’s 12 goals and four helpers. Shippensburg’s
Derrick Roy leads the Raiders with 11 goals and four assists.
Slippery Rock received a bye into the semifinals for earning the No. 2 seed in the tournament and is set to play Millersville on Friday, November 8, at 2:00 p.m. The Marauders took a 2-0 win over PSAC newcomer Seton Hill in the quarterfinals. In conference play, Slippery Rock defeated Millersville 4-3 just 10 days ago at Slippery Rock.
Millersville’s
Andrew Dukes,
Jaime Vasquez and
Jeramey Robbins have been a dangerous trio, as they have combined for 26 goals and 18 assists. The Rock is also led by a trio of goal scorers, as
Stephen Donnelly,
Dom Francis and
Michael Ramirez have combined for 17 goals and seven assists this season.
Both Millersville and Mercyhurst have won one PSAC title, with Mercyhurst clinching last season’s crown with a 1-0 win over Slippery Rock, while Millersville captured the 2011 title. The Rock has taken home seven PSAC crowns, with its most recent coming in 2009. West Chester is on the hunt for its first-ever PSAC Championship title.
The semifinal winners will play at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 9 at the Mercyhurst Soccer Field.
MEN’S SOCCER QUARTERFINALS
West Chester vs. Shippensburg
West Chester, Pa. – No. 4 West Chester took a 1-0 overtime win over No. 5 Shippensburg at Rockwell Field in West Chester, Pa. on Tuesday in PSAC Championship quarterfinal action.
With the win West Chester will advance to face Mercyhurst in Erie, Pa. on Friday, November 8 at 11:00 a.m. in the PSAC Championship Semifinals.
Miguel Ross was the lone goal scorer in the match. Ross connected on a cross from
Alex Caplan from six yards out in the 95
th minute.
West Chester has never enjoyed a PSAC Championship title, but recently broke into the national polls for the first time since 2006. Currently, the Golden Rams are ranked 20
th in the latest NSCAA/Continental Tire National College Rankings released by the National Soccer Coaches' Association of America.
West Chester Story
Shippensburg Story
Millersville vs. Seton Hill
Millersville, Pa. – Millersville shutout Seton Hill 2-0 in Millersville, Pa. on Tuesday night in the PSAC Men’s Soccer Quarterfinals.
Millersville advances in the championship to the semifinal round against No. 2 Slippery Rock. They will face-off at Mercyhurst at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, November 8.
Millersville’s game winner came in the 18
th minute from
Jaime Vasquez with an assist from
Clark Habecker.
Andrew Dukes notched a security mark in the 46
th minute to give him 11 goals on the season.
The Marauders have clinched a berth into the league championship tournament for seven straight seasons. Millersville clinched the conference title in 2011 and advanced to the semifinals in 2012.
Millersville Story
Seton Hill Story
SEEDINGS ADJUSTED FOR PSAC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP
Lock Haven, Pa. – PSAC Commissioner Steve Murray has announced that the seeds for the 2013 PSAC Men’s Soccer Championship have changed due to an NCAA violation committed by West Chester. The violation forced the Golden Rams to forfeit their final two conference games.
West Chester was originally seeded second but now drops to fourth with 22 points, while Slippery Rock moves up into second place with 25 points.
Shippensburg will now travel to West Chester on Tuesday, November 5, for a 100 p.m. quarterfinal game, while the Seton Hill at Millersville contest remains unchanged.
Slippery Rock will face the winner between Seton Hill and Millersville at Mercyhurst at 2:00 p.m. in the PSAC Semifinals on Friday, November 8. Mercyhurst remains the top seed in the tournament with 30 points and will be the host for the semifinals and championship game. The Lakers will face the winner between Shippensburg and West Chester at 11:00 a.m. at Mercyhurst Soccer Field.