Box Score For the second time in as many years, the Webster University men's soccer team defeated Fontbonne University by a goal to move on to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament championship. The winner of that game receives the SLIAC's automatic berth in the NCAA Division III national tournament.
 
The No. 3-seeded Gorloks bested No. 2-seeded Fontbonne 2-1 on a cold and windy afternoon Wednesday (Nov. 6) at Centene Stadium in Clayton. Webster finished the regular season in a three-way tie for first place but was seeded third in accordance with the conference tie-breaker criteria.
 
Webster plays in the championship Friday (Nov. 8) at 7 pm against the other semi-final winner, Westminster. By virtue of its No. 1 seed, Westminster will be the host. Webster (14-3-3 overall, 8-1 SLIAC) defeated Westminster 1-0 on Oct. 29.
 
Junior Jeff Wallner (Eureka, MO / Eureka), who was named to the Capital One Academic All-District first team last week, opened the scoring for Webster in the 21st minute. A Webster corner kick led to a scramble in the box, and the ball popped out to Wallner. He collected it and slotted it into the back of the net for his third goal of the season.
 
In the 74th minute, senior Patrick McCaffrey (St. Louis, MO / Bishop DuBourg) drove a long ball over the home team's defense to freshman Alex Whalen (Chesterfield, MO / Parkway Central). Whalen outran his defender and maneuvered around the goalkeeper before knocking in his third goal in two games into a wide-open net.
 
Fontbonne scored with less than five minutes remaining, but junior goalkeeper Brian Woodward (Eureka, MO / Eureka) and the Webster defense helped the Gorloks hold on for the win.
 
Webster, the defending SLIAC tournament champion, defeated Fontbonne 1-0 in last year's conference tournament semifinals. The Gorloks are appearing in their ninth SLIAC tournament championship and gunning for their third title in five years and fifth overall.
 
Webster, ranked ninth in the Central Region according to the National Soccer Coaches Association of America, has won 11 of its last 12 games. The Gorloks are 14-1-3 this season against Division III opponents.
 
Written by Josh Sellmeyer, Webster sports information assistant.