Neumann Outlasts Pacers in PKs for CSAC Title
Kris Kassel scored the Pacers' lone goal in regulation off a penalty kick

Neumann Outlasts Pacers in PKs for CSAC Title

Men's Soccer - 11/8/2014 4:30:00 PM

Box Score Aston, PA – The Marywood University men's soccer team came up short to top-seeded Neumann University in the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship Saturday. After both teams played to a 1-1 tie, Neumann overtook the Pacers 3-2 in penalty kicks.

Neumann (11-8-2) receives automatic qualifications to the NCAA tournament. Marywood (10-5-4) will await its postseason fate on Monday.

Both teams scored their goals off penalty kicks during regulation. Brooks Skyers provided Neumann a one-goal lead in the 8th minute. Kris Kassel squared the championship at 1-1 with a PK in the 53rd minute.

Marywood had a pair of chances to net the go-ahead goal late in the second stanza, but CSAC championship MVP goalkeeper Dan Jones turned aside strikes from Dylan McMahon and Daniel Hull in the 83rd and 84th minute, respectively. Then, with less than four minutes remaining in regulation, Jones rejected attempts from Matthew Hull and Jonathan Rottkamp to preserve the tie.

Each side got off one shot in the first overtime session, while Neumann outshot the Pacers 4-1 in the second extra session but was unable to capitalize. CSAC honorable mention goalkeeper Sunseri logged saves on attempts by Tim Pickett in the 107th minute and Tben Donnie in the 110th minute, sending the championship match into a penalty kick shootout.

Marywood won the coin toss and opted to shoot first. In the opening round, Marywood's Daniel Hull and Neumann's Jim McDowell both cashed in on their attempts. Then in round two, Jones' foot just got a piece of McMahon's strike, while Zach DiDonato's PK score gave Neumann a 2-1 edge. After misses by Marywood's Kassel and Neumann's Vince Cortese, the two squads went to round four. Marywood's Daniel Lopez, an all-CSAC honorable mention midfielder, booted one through to knot the shootout at 2-2, but Skyers answered right back with a sharp strike after a nifty fake to put Neumann on top 3-2. Casey Peckio was the Pacers' fifth shooter but his strike was denied by Jones which clinched the shootout win for the Knights. 

The Knights claimed their third CSAC men's soccer title in program history and first since 2011. It marks the fourth time in the five years that the Pacers were the runner-up in the CSAC championship.

Both teams had similar stat lines. The Pacers edged the Knights 19-18 in shots. Both teams tied in shots on target (nine) and saves (eight).
 
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