ASTON, Pa. – The Neumann University men's soccer team heads to Centenary University for a Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) semifinal game on Thursday afternoon.

The Knights got hot at the right time, winning their last four conference games of the season to qualify as the fifth seed in the playoffs with a conference record of 5-4.
 
In the first round match-up, the Knights won an exciting 2-1 game at Keystone. The Giants got on the board first with a penalty kick in the first half. Jake McDevitt tied the game early in the second half off an assist from Jon Cobb. As it looked like the game was headed into extra time, Cobb had a shot blocked and Joe Martinho put the rebound into the back of the net with 7.2 seconds remaining to lift Neumann to a 2-1 win.
 
Now Neumann will look to avenge a 6-2 loss to Centenary during the regular season. Since that loss, the Knights won their last four regular season games and the first round game on Tuesday evening for a five-game winning streak. Levi Massey and Jack Norwood both scored off of corner kicks in the loss to Centenary.

The Knights have been led in the attack this season by the junior duo of Christian Cortese (6 goals and 7 assists) and McDevitt (9 goals and 6 assists). The pair has combined to score more than half of the team's goals this season and both players have saved their best play of the season for the final stretch. Cobb has also been on a tear for Neumann, registering three goals in his past three games to end the season in addition to his two assists in the first round contest.

Defensively, the team has enjoyed a renaissance on the backline over the past two weeks. Heading into the playoffs, the team held its opponents scoreless for 366 minutes of play. The lone goal in the first round game came on a penalty kick. Ian Hunter, Massey, Norwood, Billy Swontek and Tyler Williams have all combined to shutdown opposing offenses and will look to continue doing so during the playoffs. Shane Smith has also been great in net, registering four shutouts and 13 saves in the final four games of the regular season to help Neumann clinch the playoff berth.

In the other first round game on Tuesday, Cabrini defeated Gwynedd Mercy 3-0. Cabrini will face Immaculata on Thursday. The winners of both semifinal games will then meet on Saturday for the CSAC Championship.