With a dense fog hanging over the field throughout the contest, the Webster University men's soccer team could see well enough to pull off a 4-2 win at Greenville College to advance to the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Championship. Webster will travel to Fulton, MO on November 6 to face host Westminster College for the 2015 championship, with the game winner advancing to the NCAA III Championships. Westminster was a 5-0 winner in the other semi-final over Fontbonne University to advance.
A Brendan Shields (JR, St. Peter's, MO/Ft. Zumwalt East HS) goal on a penalty kick, with 6:28 left in the game, gave Webster a 3-2 lead. It was Shields fifth of the season and third in his last two games. Shields scored twice against Greenville in the regular season finale to help clinch the Tournament berth for Webster. Freshman Drew Quisenberry (Morton, IL/Morton HS) scored in the game's final minute to wrap it up for the Gorloks.
The Gorloks had to come from behind twice against the resilient Panthers. Jeremy Statman (FR, Austin, TX/McCullum HS) tied the game at 2-2 off a pass from Brendan Shields (JR, St. Peter's, MO/Ft. Zumwalt East HS) at 68:09 in the second half after Greenville had taken a 2-1 lead just three minutes earlier. It was Statman's fifth goal of the season.
Greenville took a 1-0 lead 15 minutes into the game but Webster kept pressure on the remainder of the half, with the Panther goalie coming up with several saves. Webster goalie Alex Bergmann (FR, Wentzville, MO/St. Dominic's HS) saved a second Panther goal with less than a minute in the half and the score remained 1-0 at the break.
Webster tied the game early in the second half when the Gorloks' go to duo struck again. Filip Delija (FR, Chicago, IL/Stevenson HS) scored off a pass from Zach Gyuricza (FR, Chicago, IL/St. Viator HS). For Delija, it was his eighth goal of the year, tying him with Gyuricza for the team lead.
Bergmann would earn the win in goal for the Gorloks, improving to 8-1 for his freshman campaign. He had four saves in the contest as the Panthers got off 13 shots.
The Gorloks had a string of three straight SLIAC regular season titles snapped by Westminster, who finished a perfect 9-0 in SLIAC play.
Webster has won four straight vs. Greenville and leads the all time series, 18-10-5. But before the Webster four-game streak, and a tie in between, the Panthers had beaten the Gorloks seven out of their previous eight meetings.
Webster climbs to .500 for the first time this season at 9-9-1 with the win. The Gorloks have had five winning seasons in their last six. Greenville, who finished second at 7-2 in the SLIAC, finishes at 10-10 overall.
The time of the championship game vs. Westminster in Fulton, on November 6 is 7:00 p.m. Webster students with a valid ID will be admitted free. Adults admission is $5, $2 for children 5-16. Children under 5 are admitted free.
