Box Score
NEW CASTLE, Del. – The top-seeded Post University men's soccer team made all four of its penalty kick attempts as the Eagles defeated fourth-seeded Wilmington to advance to the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) Championship on Wednesday afternoon. The teams tied 1-1 after two overtime periods and Post won 4-2 in penalty kicks.
Sophomore
Francisco Sastre (Sao Paolo, Brazil) scored in the fourth-round of penalty kicks for the victory. The Wildcats missed their first attempt as Lance Berry hit it very high over the net. Seniors
Joe Baccielo (Stratford, Conn.),
Ani Lekaj (Sherman, Conn.), and
Krzysztof Giezek each made their attempts to put Post in front 3-2 after three rounds. Senior
Andre Lindsay (Clarendon, Conn.) stopped Todd Woll's shot to give Sastre a chance for the victory.
The Wildcats controlled the first half, holding an 11-1 advantage on shots but could only score one goal. Elton Joe received a cross inside from Jordon Ellison and found the back of the net in the 14
th minute to put Wilmington ahead 1-0 at the break.
"We had very difficult time in first half breaking them down. They really outplayed us and deserved to be ahead," said head coach
Ted Haley. "We tried to play more direct in the second half and I felt like we controlled play. We had a few opportunities in overtime but we all felt comfortable going into PKs."
Post's only chance in the period came on a header by Lekaj off a corner by senior
Jon Dzurilla (Torrington, Conn.) that was just over the crossbar. Lindsay kept the Eagles close with five saves in the first half.
The Eagles knotted the score in the 59
th minute as Dzurilla scored his first goal of the season off a pass from junior
Terrell Whitting (Naugatuck, Conn.). Dzurilla received the pass from 10 yards out and had an open shot for the goal.
Senior
Jean Louis Cadet (Sunrise, Fla.) had a late chance in the 87
th minute, but his header was saved by Frank Hall. The Wildcats had a free-kick from six yards out in the 89
th minute but Joe could not get his shot past the Eagles' defensive wall.
The only shot for either team in the overtimes was a chance by Whitting in the 99
th minute. The junior received a pass on the left side of the penalty area and took a shot, but was turned away by Hall.
"I'm proud that we are going to the finals again. I think we have a great chance to win the title this year," added Haley.
Post was outshot 16-5 in the game and Lindsay made six saves for the Eagles. Lekaj led Post with two shots on the afternoon.
The Eagles advance to play the winner of second-seeded Dominican and third-seeded Philadelphia on Saturday, Nov. 9 at 11 a.m. in Wilmington.
