Box Score
The Bruins soccer team played in the opening round of the NCCAA South Regional tournament on Wednesday. The team came into the tournament with the #5 seed. Their opponent would be the Southeastern University Fire. The Bruins and Fire had met in the 2012 regional playoffs with the Fire defeating the Bruins 1-0. The team has had a bitter taste of that defeat all season, and they were looking to get even with the Fire as they took the field in Franklin Springs, Georgia.
As the game began, the two teams went back and forth exchanging possession in the midfield. The speed of play was very fast for both teams as each sought to gain control and set pace. The Bruins defense stood strong and held the Fire back. Cody Lehman and Joel Cave made several great plays in the opening minutes to clear the zone. In the 12th minute of action, the Bruins defense tried to clear possession but the Fire gathered the ball and sent a pass into the middle. Gerriston Craane took possession and bent a shot passed the diving Joseph Wooster to put the Fire up 1-0 early.
The Bruins went on the attack looking for the equalizer. They had a great chance in the 22nd minute as Ryan McCarty sent a through ball to Matt Moore in the corner. Moore made a great move around the defender and sent the ball into the middle where Travis Woodham's shot was saved by Fire goalie David Danahy to keep the Bruins off the board. The Bruins kept up their offensive pressure and continued to generate looks on net.
The team finally broke through the Fire armor with a goal in the 33rd minute of action. Jordan Allen sent a ball towards the far corner where Ryan Beadles sent in a beautiful cross which was headed home by Matt Moore to tie the game at 1-1. Both teams had several good chances on net throughout the remainder of the half, but at the break the score was locked at 1-1.
"They are a very good and very quick team," Coach McCormick said. "We knew we were going to have to play quick and take advantage of our opportunities."
In the second half, the Bruins and Fire battled hard to see who would gain the lead. Throughout a majority of the second half, the Bruins controlled possession and had several great looks on frame. The Bruins defense stood strong and kept the Fire from getting good looks. In the 82nd minute, the Fire had an opportunity for a corner and fired a point blank shot on goal which was saved by Joseph Wooster to keep the game even.
The Bruins responded with their own excellent opportunity as Eric Moisant's shot was tipped just wide with four minutes to play. The team looked to mount one last run before the end of the second half, and was given a free kick just outside the box after a foul was called on Southeastern. The shot sailed just over the crossbar to send the two teams into extra time tied 1-1. Both teams made their adjustments on the sidelines and prepared for the golden goal extra time period.
In the 94th minute of action, the Fire split the Bruins defense and Craane fired a hard low shot into the lower left side of the net just past Joseph Wooster to claim a 2-1 victory for the Fire and end the Bruins 2013 season.
"Obviously we would have liked a different result but we showed improvement in this match," Coach McCormick said. "This team has more potential and they showed improvements even from where we were last year. Southeastern is a good team and they played well today."
With the loss, the Bruins finish their 2013 season at 9-8-1. Matt Moore scored the team's only goal as Ryan Beadles and Jordan Allen were credited with the assist. Though the loss is tough to swallow, the Bruins held their heads high as they thanked the fans that were in attendance for the game. Above all, the team magnified Christ in the way they played this season. Even in the early years of the Bruins' program, the team is quickly showing that they are a force to be reckoned with in the South Region of the NCCAA.
