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GRANTHAM, Pa. (November 17, 2017)  – The Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team will take on No. 9 Messiah College Saturday in the opening match of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Sectional Semifinals.

The Ducks reached the "Sweet 16" for the eighth time in program history after a dramatic, come-from-behind 2-1 victory over No. 15 Cortland last weekend. 

Should the Ducks advance, the team will take on the winner of Saturday's second semifinal fixture between No. 16 Amherst College and RV University of Rochester Sunday. If men's soccer is able to advance to the sectional final, it would be the program's third trip to the Elite 8.

How'd We Get Here?
Stevens arrives in Mechanicsburg after defeating Middlebury College on freshman Kevin Brito's penalty kick in the waning minutes. 

The Ducks edged the Red Dragons on junior Chris Cesario's header with thirty-five seconds remaining in regulation. Junior Aaron Henry made a leaping save with time expiring to preserve the win.

Keeping it Close
Eleven of the team's 21 matches this fall were decided by one goal. Stevens went 7-4 in one-goal matches and each of its last three matches (all wins) have been decided by a goal in the final two minutes of regulation. Stevens played a stretch of five consecutive matches and six of seven in the month of September. 

Hank's still "Cleaning" Up
Henry lost his shutout streak at 395:11, when Cortland's Dan Figarella scored on a second-half free kick, however the Fayetteville, Arkansas native has posted a 13-4-1 record on the year, making 67 saves. Henry has a 0.82 goals against average with a 0.817 save percentage and has posted eight clean sheets. Henry's made 16 saves over four postseason matches, including eight in the opening rounds of the NCAA tournament.

Offensive Nuggets
Seventeen different players have registered at least one point for the lengthiest list of scorers since the 2013 campaign. Three players have reached double-digits in scored, led by juniors Daniel Aversano and Andrew Masur, who've each recorded 11 points. Freshman Kevin Brito is the third Duck in double figures with 10. Brito became the first freshman to reach double-digits in points since Jay Mikula tallied four goals and three assists in 2013.

Any History?
Stevens is 1-2 all-time against Messiah, with the last meeting between the teams occurring in the 2008 National Championship match. The Falcons won the national crown on penalties after the teams played to a 1-1 tie. Messiah has won the last two meetings.

The Ducks last faced Amherst in the 2011 sectional semifinals. Stevens advanced past the Mammoths 2-1 on a pair of goals by then-sophomore Curtis Stecyk.

Stevens and Rochester have not faced one another since the 2006 season, when Stevens ended the Yellowjackets' season in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Meeting Messiah
Messiah is making its 21st appearance in the Sweet 16 and the nationally-renowned program has claimed 10 national championships since 2010. The Falcons received an at-large bid to the tournament after being upset in the Middle Atlantic Conference (Commonwealth Division) championship by Lycoming College. 

Messiah has allowed just 10 goals this season and the team's 0.490 goals against average ranks 11th nationally and goalkeeper Connor Bell is 14th among Division III GK's with a 0.519 GAA. Offensively, the team is lead by MAC Commonwealth Offensive Player of the Year Kirby Robbins, who's tallied 13 goals and six assists, including five game-winners. 

The Falcons reached the sectional semifinal after consecutive 1-0 victories over Castleton University and Hobart College. 

Regarding Rochester
Rochester arrives in Pennsylvania after consecutive 2-1 victories to reach its fourth Sweet 16. The Yellowjackets opened NCAA play by defeating Connecticut College in overtime and then downed SUNY Oneonta after goalkeeper Redd Brown made a diving save on a penalty kick to preserve the victory.

Rochester received an at-large bid to the national tournament after falling to Emory in the University Athletic Association's regular season finale. 

Geoffrey Rouin leads the team with 12 goals and two assists, including a team-high six game-winners. Defensively, the team has allowed 16 goals, including four in a September loss to Chicago. Brown has started 19 games and has played to a 0.77 goals against average with a 0.779 save percentage. Brown has made 24 saves over his last five matches.

Analyzing Amherst
Amherst arrives at sectionals after a 2-1 win over Salem St. University in the NCAA opening round and advanced on penalty kicks over Springfield College. The Mammoths received an at-large bid to the tournament after a 6-2-2 record in the New England Small College Athletic Conference. Amherst fell to Hamilton College in the NESCAC quarterfinals.

The Mammoths have allowed 13 goals over the last nine matches, but allowed just four goals over its first nine, for a season total of 17. The team has rotated goalkeepers throughout the season, but Michael Stone was between the pipes in the first two rounds of the tournament and holds a 1.03 GAA with a 0.850 save percentage on the year.

On the attack, Sebastian Derby leads the team with 12 points, including two game-winners. Four players have reached double-digit points for Amherst, who, as a team, has tallied 37 goals on the season.

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