#3 UNC Greensboro 2, #2 College of Charleston 1 (2 OT)
GREENSBORO, N.C. ?Thomas Campbell scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner in the second overtime period, to help third-seeded UNC Greensboro defeat No. 2 seed College of Charleston, 2-1, Friday night in the second semifinal of the 2007 Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
UNC Greensboro will face top-seeded Furman in the championship match at 1:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon.
The Spartans’ E.J. O’Keefe blasted a pass towards the box from 40 yards out, and after Charleston goalkeeper Corbin Waller lost control of the ball, Campbell calmly collected the ball and sent it into the wide-open net. Campbell’s goals were his 12th and 13th of the season, moving him into a tie at the top spot in the Southern Conference’s goals scored ledger.
After UNC Greensboro was whistled for a foul in the penalty box at the 11:02 mark of the first half, Charleston’s Casey Gold converted the penalty kick to stake the Cougars to an early 1-0 advantage.
The Spartans equalized with less than five minutes remaining in regulation when Corey Maret sent a blast on goal from the left wing. Thomas Campbell redirected the shot past the Cougars’ Corbin Waller to even the match and send it into overtime.
UNC Greensboro held a 20-6 advantage in shots on the evening. Waller stopped five shots for the Cougars while Janda notched four saves in goal for UNCG.
Charleston’s record fell to 13-5-1 with the loss, and UNC Greensboro improved to 11-7-2.
#1 Furman 2, #4 Elon 1
GREENSBORO, N.C. ? Defender Michael Erwood headed in the game-winning goal with just 13:13 remaining in the second half to push No. 1 seed Furman past fourth-seeded Elon in the first semifinal of the 2007 Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship at UNCG Soccer Stadium.
The 22nd-ranked Paladins will face either College of Charleston or UNC Greensboro in the championship match Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
The Paladins earned a corner kick in the 77th minute and Patrick Murray sent the ball to the near post. Erwood directed a header into the upper-right corner to give Furman the 2-1 edge.
Bryan Amos collected five saves on the evening, including a stop of Steven Kinney’s header with just two seconds remaining to seal the victory.
Furman scored the only goal of the first half in the 35th minute. Shea Salinas raced down the right sideline and sent a cross into the box where Haris Cekic headed the ball past Elon’s Clint Irwin into the bottom-left corner of the goal.
At the 72:26 mark, the Phoenix evened the match following a defensive turnover from the Furman back line. Elon’s Brad Franks intercepted a Furman pass and raced towards the end line. His cross found the waiting foot of Wyatt, who converted his ninth goal of the season.
The two teams combined for 17 shots in the first period, including nine shots on goal. Elon’s Justin Wyatt and Erfan Imeni each tested Amos with chances in the box, but Amos was up to the test, stopping four first half shots.
Imeni and Furman’s Eric Baffour both had golden opportunities in opening five minutes of the second half but each missed wide with headers in the box.
"This was an excellent effort by our team tonight," said Furman head coach Doug Allison. "Bryan Amos would make a great save at one end and Michael Erwood had that key goal for us. I am very proud of our team, especially the seniors who showed great leadership."
Irwin collected five saves for Elon, which concludes its season at 8-7-4. With the victory, Furman improves to 17-3-0.