Men’s soccer makes run at NCAA title

By Nathan Walls
Guest Writer

Pembroke.

Familiar opponent.

Familiar outcome.

Much better destination.

The UNCP men’s soccer team got two goals from sophomore forward Mircea Cosac in a 2-0 victory over Peach Belt Conference counterpart Clayton College and State in the second round of the NCAA Div. II soccer tournament on Nov. 13.

The victory was the first in the national tournament for the Braves, who are making their second appearance in the NCAAs after a first round shootout ouster to Carson Newman last season.

“It’s a great feeling to get our first victory in the NCAAs,” UNCP head coach Mike Schaeffer said. “We played as well tonight as we’ve played all year.”

The Braves (15-2), who received a bye in the first round as hosts of the Southeast regional, now move on to the national quarterfinals and a date with Central Arkansas, who defeated Rollins College 2-1 in the South regional final last Saturday.

UNCP, ranked fifth in the country, will play Saturday for a spot in the Final Four, which is being held Dec. 3 and 5 in Wichita Falls, Texas.

UNCP’s dominance over the Lakers (12-4-3), ranked 25th in the nation, began in the regular season when the Braves baffled Clayton 1-0 on Sept. 25.

The Braves’ mastery of the Laker defense, one of the top 10 in the country, was no different this time around as sophomore forward Trond Myrland found an open Cosac in the 19th and 63rd minutes to put the game away.

“Sometimes the best defense is a good offense,” Clayton head coach Pete Petersen said. “They are an offensive juggernaut. They were the cream of the crop in the conference this year. They showed that tonight.”

The first goal was initiated by a throw in from senior forward Sascha Gorres. Gorres hit Myrland in the middle of the field before Myrland made Clayton sophomore goalkeeper Heath Padgett commit at the top of the box. Padgett’s error left the goal unoccupied and Cosac booted the ball in on the right side off a touch pass from Myrland.

Myrland and Cosac played a similar give-and-go attack on the second score, the only difference being that Cosac scored from the middle of the box off a pass from Myrland, who was dribbling down the left flank.

“It was similar to the first goal,” Cosac said. “Trond saw me running and he passed me the ball. That’s the key to winning in this game.”

Padgett had his work cut out for him as the Braves kept the ball on the Laker half of the field during most of the contest. He made 11 saves for Clayton, compared to UNCP freshman goalkeeper Richard Smith’s two stops.

UNCP made 20 shots on goal and received nine corner kicks, further proof of the offensive clinic the Braves put on.

The game was hotly fought, with Clayton being issued 15 fouls and UNCP being assessed with 10. Two Lakers, freshman defender Drew Smith and junior defender Alex Dowling were handed yellow cards and Gorres was given one for the Braves.

But the physicality was worth making the trip to the Elite Eight for UNCP.