Gators Clinch Playoff Spot Despite Loss
DELAWARE, Ohio - The Allegheny men's soccer team clinched its second straight NCAC playoff appearance on Saturday night despite falling to no. 6 Ohio Wesleyan 1-0.
The Gators had an ominous start, as they gave up an early goal during the seventh minute to fall into an early deficit. The Battling Bishops would continue to pepper Allegheny with shots; however the back line of would bend but not break allowing just three more of Ohio Wesleyans final 14 shots on goal in the first half. The Gators could only muster two shots in the first half, as the Battling Bishops controlled a majority of the play in the first half.
The second half saw much of the same, as Ohio Wesleyan continued to let shots go from all over the field. However, Allegheny's defense and sophomore keeper John Lichina would keep the Gators in the game, as they held the Battling Bishops scoreless in the second half. Ohio Wesleyan came into Saturday's game leading the conference with 3.3 goals per contest.
The Gators would have a couple of spirts where they would put the pressure on. In the 57 minute junior Tyler Danzey would put two consecutive shots on goal that the Battling Bishop keeper would stop. In the final moments, Allegheny had a few opportunities to tie the game, as they were awarded back-to-back corner kicks and junior Andrew Zimmer headed a shot wide of the cage as Ohio Wesleyan would survive with a 1-0 victory.
The news would not be all bad though, as Allegheny would lock up the fourth and final seed of the NCAC tournament, finishing with a 4-4-1 record. Hiram's 1-0 victory over Denison, ensured that the Big Red would fall half a game behind the Gators at 4-5-0. Kenyon's 1-0 victory over Wabash gave the Lords an identical 4-4-1 NCAC mark, with each teams tie coming against each other. To the second tiebreaker it would go, as the final playoff spot would go to the team with the most goals on the season.
The Gators finished the season with 33 goals, good for third in the conference, and Kenyon would end with just 19 as Allegheny would advance to NCAC playoffs for the second straight year.
The Gators will travel back to Delaware, Ohio just, as they did last season, where they will face Ohio Wesleyan in the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday, November 2 at 7:00 pm.
