ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's soccer team will host Marywood University in the Colonial States Athletics Conference (CSAC) Championship Game on Saturday, November 5 at 4:00 PM.
Neumann advanced to its second straight CSAC Title game with a 1-0 double-overtime win against Gwynedd-Mercy College in the semifinals. Marywood defeated Rosemont College 3-1 in the other semifinal contest.
The Knights defeated the Pacers 2-1 in double overtime in the regular season finale. These two teams were in the Championship game last season as well.
The Knights finished first in the CSAC regular season registering an 8-1 record. Neumann beat Marywood University 2-1 in 2OT in the regular season finale, as the winner of the contest would claim sole possession of first place.
The Knights advance in the playoffs with an 11-4 overall record. They were selected to finish in the coaches' preseason poll and have fulfilled those honors for the regular season standings. The only loss in conference play was against Rosemont College 2-0.
No. 3 Rosemont defeated No. 4 Keystone College 4-1 in quarterfinal action will travel to No. 2 Marywood for their semifinals match. No. 6 Gwynedd-Mercy upset No. 3 Cabrini 3-0 in the other quarterfinal.
After the Knights lost the first two games of the season against Richard Stockton and Haverford College, both in overtime, Neumann has only losses since that point. The Knights are a different team than last year, where they scored 60 goals in the regular season and lost seven seniors. The 2011 season has been defined as defensive cohesiveness and perseverance. After losing two extra time games, the Knights have won late game dramatics against Widener (overtime win), Cabrini (NU scored in last 90 seconds to win), Gwynedd Mercy (NU had three goals in final 15 minutes to win), Keystone (NU scored in last nine minutes to win) and also against Marywood (overtime win).
Andy Attah, Joe Larkins, Dan Chrashewsky and Brooks Skyers provide the stability in the back. Bob Mastrillo has saved the Knights bacon on those moments when the backs haven't sealed the holes. Where the Knights have excelled is when they needed goals, the team found ways to execute. Andrew Leissing has been Johnny on the Spot with well timed runs and goals produced. Evan Morgan and Michael Frei have been in form for the second half of the season.
The winner will receive the automatic qualifier from the conference for the NCAA Tournament next week.
