Box Score The SCAD Men's Soccer team won against the St. Thomas University Bobcats on Saturday night in a harrowing game that ended 4-3 - a win based on penalty kicks. SCAD goalie Fernando Zeledon proved to be the difference as he recorded three saves during the penalty kick session, with a total of six kicks per team.
Going into the quarterfinals of The Sun Conference Championships, the men certainly had the edge on paper over the Bobcats, which was eighth-seeded in the tournament. SCAD was first-seeded. Comparing win-loss records, the Bees had a great advantage at 10-2-3 over the Wildcats, who stood at 3-14. However, the game was much more exciting in person.
The Bobcats showed a determination not to let this be the final game of their season. The very first period told a story. SCAD and St. Thomas battled to a scoreless tie and the Bobcats seemed to be pressing the Bees' goal more often than SCAD did on the Bobcats' side of the pitch. When the intermission came, the Bees knew they were in for a fight. And they adjusted accordingly.
Four-and-a-half minutes into the second half, St. Thomas struck paydirt. From a corner shot, the Bobcats sent a ball in front of Zeledon that was deflected off a St. Thomas player and was defended by Zeledon; however, the deflection fell to attack Andres Rico for the Bobcats, who placed the ball by Zeledon. The goal broke the scoring drought. SCAD found itself in a position it had not been in since the early season. The Bees were behind by a 1-0 score.
For the next 30 minutes on the clock, no team could penetrate the other's defense to post additional scores; that is, until Jordan Trinci-Lyne, scoring hero for the Bees, kicked a crossing shot to an open Alex Jamroz. Jamroz was able to get the ball by the Bobcat's goalie. With the score tied at 1-1, the teams were locked into a fierce battle for the remainder of regulation. But no one could take advantage.
Two 10 minute overtimes didn't change the score, so the ultimate victory in the quarterfinal match would be decided by penalty kicks.
Five players from each team lined up alternatively, one at a time, in front of the opponent's goalkeeper and take a single shot at the goal. Both goalies knew that a single goal could spell an advantage for the opposition.
After five players from each team took their shots, the contest was still undecided at a tied score of 3-3. It all came down to a sixth player to decide the outcome.
That is when Alex Jamroz rose, once again, to the occasion. The Bobcats' goalie guessed the wrong side of the net to defend and Jamroz easily placed the go-ahead goal by him. That left a final shot for St. Thomas. It all came down to this one moment.
Zeledon positioned himself in the middle of the net so as to not give the penalty kicker an advantage. He remained motionless until the strike was made and then dived to his left, parallel to the ground, and made an unbelievable save, deflecting the ball outside of the scoring area. Those fans who were not already on their feet raced onto the field to celebrate a well fought victory for the Bees. The Bees won the match 4-3 on penalty kicks.
Being the highest seeded team, the win enables SCAD to continue to host the semifinal round of The Sun Conference Tournament. SCAD's opponent on Friday, Nov. 14, will be the fifth-seeded Embry-Riddle University, who also won their quarterfinal match with Northwood University on penalty kicks. The game time has been set at 7 p.m.
The semifinal round will take place at the SCAD Athletics Complex, 3650 Speedway Blvd., Hardeeville, South Carolina. Come out and support your Bees as they seek a conference championship.
