HOBOKEN, N.J. (November 10, 2007) – After a total of 110 minutes played, the Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team found itself tied with Eastern University at 1-1 in the first round of the 2007 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the De Baun Athletic Complex in Hoboken, N.J. The game then went into a round of penalty kicks where the Ducks fell to the Eagles by a 4-3 count. Sophomore forward Tyler VanBrackle (Eldersburg, Md.) tallied the decisive goal in the fourth round of the shootout. With the tie, Stevens finished up the year with a mark of 17-1-3, while Eastern went to 13-5-2.
The Eagles, who won the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference title last week, will now face ninth-ranked York College in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. That contest will take place on Sunday at 6 p.m. at the De Baun Athletic Complex. The Spartans claimed a 3-1 victory over the Red Devils of Dickinson College later in the evening.
The Ducks jumped out early in the 13th-minute when sophomore forward Todd Sheridan placed a ball into the back of the net off his own rebound. Then, with just five minutes left, Eastern tied the game up when sophomore midfielder/defender Alex Clark (Canandaigua, N.Y.) scored on an unassisted effort. On the play, Clark shot a ball from 20 yards out, which hit the crossbar but found its way into the left corner netting.
Senior midfielder Ryan Wilkison led off penalty kicks for Stevens and placed a shot just underneath the crossbar. Sophomore midfielder Terry Fry (Lancaster, Pa.) followed that up with a score of his own, which found its way into the right side of the goal.
In the second round, sophomore defender Chris Faustino gave the Ducks a 2-1 advantage when he put a shot into the left side of the cage. The Eagles then knotted up the score as junior midfielder Ryan Castle (Lincoln University, Pa.) was successful on his attempt. The ensuing set, junior defender Jason Nachman connected in the lower left corner to take back the lead. However, for the third time in a row, Clark kicked a shot into the lower left corner of the net.
In the fourth round, sophomore defender Al Lockhart started it off for Stevens but failed to convert as his attempt hit the right post. Shortly thereafter, VanBrackle gave Eastern the lead for good as senior defender Sean Bliss put a shot over the crossbar in the last chance for the Ducks.
Stevens' freshman goalkeeper Zach Carr made no saves on the day while Eagles' junior goaltender Michael Dorsch (Wilmington, Del.) turned aside a game-high five shots. The Ducks held a 16-15 advantage in shots and a 4-3 edge in corner kicks.
Head Coach Tim O'Donohue and his squad will now enter next season with an attempt to defend their Empire 8 championship. The Ducks will also look to continue a 49-game conference unbeaten streak and a 59-game run without a loss at the De Baun Athletic Complex.
