The #1 Bob Jones University Bruins are heading to the NCCAA DII National Championship after defeating #4 Manhattan Christian College 3-2 Thursday evening. Victor Oladipo was key in tonight's win as he tallied all three goals for a hat trick in today's contest.
"A championship team must overcome adversity, and tonight we showed we could do just that," said Head Coach Greg Fulton. "We played really well in possession but were not as efficient in front of the goal which allowed the other team into the game. We have made the final and will leave everything on the pitch to try and achieve our goal of becoming national champions!"
It was a win or go home situation as the Bruins faced the Thunder for the first time. With both teams picking up three points in their first match in pool play, a win from either team would send them into the title game.
Just three minutes into the match, Jordan Crews would work the ball to Victor Oladipo would slide the ball past the Thunder keeper to give the Bruins the 1-0 lead. The Bruins would keep pressuring towards the goal, but in the 27th minute, the Tornados would level the game off of a set piece.
As the Bruins continued to push, Oladipo would go again and score his second of the game and put the Bruins back in the lead with just 3 minutes left in the first half.
At the mid point of the game, the Bruins led the game with 11 shots and 7 corners.
A shot and a couple of corner kicks for the Bruins would start off the second half, but after a foul on the Bruins in the 54th minute the Thunder was able to get another one into the back of the net to pull back and even the game at two goals apiece. But the Bruins didn't panic, instead they pressed forward and it paid off a minute later when Victor Oladipo would complete his hat trick with a rocket to score the game winning goal.
With the win against Manhattan Christian College, the Bruins have advanced to the NCCAA DII National Championship match on Saturday night where they will face #2 Randall University at 5:30 p.m. in Kissimmee, Florida.
