Hornets National Runners-Up in First Title Game Appearance
SAN ANTONIO, Texas --- The Lynchburg College
men's soccer team was less than five minutes away from the
first-ever team championship in school history, but #3 Messiah
College (PA) rallied late for a 2-1 overtime victory in the NCAA
Division III Championship game, hosted by Trinity University.
The first half of play was even, with LC out-shooting the Falcons
5-3 and Messiah holding a 2-1 edge in corner kicks but neither
squad could get on the scoreboard.
After 30 minutes of scoreless second-half soccer, LC senior forward
Michael Abbonizio (pictured; Maple Glen, PA/Hatboro-Horsham) broke
the scoreless tie from Scott Colman (Yorktown, VA/York) at 75:06.
The lead held for 10 minutes before a collision in the box left Dan
Squire open to score the tying goal from Jake Berry at 85:20.
It was Messiah's first shot on goal of the game.
The contest headed to overtime where Geoff Pezon gave Messiah is
third-straight national title on an assist from Derek Black in the
97th minute. Messiah had 12 shots (two on net),
while LC had 10 (four on net) for the game. Berry made three saves
for Messiah.
The Hornets end their dramatic 2010 season with a 20-5-1 record.
The unranked LC squad won the Old Dominion Athletic Conference
Title and started the NCAA Tournament at home with a 3-1 victory
over Transylvania University (KY). The Hornets traveled to
12th-ranked Emory University (GA) and scored a 2-1
come-from-behind victory in the second round, the farthest the LC
men's soccer team had ever advanced.
A trip to Columbus, Ohio seemed daunting when the Hornets were
faced with the two top teams in Division III, but 2-0 victories
over #1 Trinity and #2 Ohio Wesleyan propelled LC into the national
semifinal. Trailing 1-0 late in the game Friday against
sixth-ranked Bowdoin College (ME), the Hornets scored with two
minutes left to tie the game and won the contest 2-1 in overtime to
reach the finals.
This release is courtesy of the Lynchburg College
sports information department.