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Athletic News
10/24/2009 -
Mount Olive Clinches Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament Berth, Defeats Erskine 1-0
John Mendoza’s goal in the 61st minute broke a scoreless tie and Jamie Carano recorded a shutout in his first collegiate start as Mount Olive defeated Erskine 1-0 in Conference Carolinas men’s soccer Saturday at Due West, S.C. The win, combined with Saturday's other results in the conference, clinches a spot for the Trojans in the upcoming conference tournament.
Mount Olive (6-9-0 overall, 3-6-0 Conference Carolinas) narrowly missed going on top midway through the first half when Scott Mitchell crossed to Matt Cargile in the box, but Cargile’s one-timer went just over the crossbar. Erskine (5-9-2, 2-6-1) appeared to take a lead early in the first half, but Matt Robinson’s header went off the left post as the two teams went into halftime tied 0-0.
The Trojans turned an offside call against Erskine into the game-winning goal. Ramon Gallardo served the ball from just inside the Mount Olive third to Chris McClaugherty in the Erskine third. McClaugherty played the ball to Mendoza just above the box and Mendoza put the ball in the upper 90 at the 60:38 mark.
Mount Olive appeared to have a second goal less than 10 minutes later when Angelo Acquah chipped the ball past the keeper at the top of the box. Mitchell punched the ball in at the right post, but was flagged for offside.
Erskine pressured for much of the remainder of the match and had one last chance on a corner kick with 12 seconds left. The ball was loose just outside of the box before Frank Boateng chipped the ball out and time ran out before Erskine could get a shot off.
Carano finished with four saves as Mount Olive recorded its first shutout of the season, despite being outshot 14-5. Devon Braykovich had two saves for the Flying Fleet.
Mount Olive entered Saturday’s contest on the outside looking in for one of the eight spots in the 2009 Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Tournament, which gets underway November 3. The Trojans were tied with Barton and St. Andrews with six points (three points for a conference win, one point for a tie), one point behind Erskine and Queens, and three points behind Belmont Abbey.
But losses by Belmont Abbey and St. Andrews, and a 0-0 tie between Barton and Queens moved Mount Olive into a tie with Belmont Abbey for sixth place with 9 points. Queens now has eight points and Barton has seven points, but both teams have concluded conference play and will finish behind Mount Olive.
The Trojans can clinch the No. 6 seed with a win in their season finale, but are assured of finishing no lower than seventh. Belmont Abbey and Erskine face each other in their finale, so only one of the two teams has any chance of finishing ahead of Mount Olive. The Trojans defeated both Belmont Abbey and St. Andrews, and hold the tie-breaker advantage in a two-way or a three-way tie.
Mount Olive concludes regular season play Saturday as the Trojans play host to Anderson for Senior Day. Seniors Angelo Acquah and Adrian Daniels will be recognized prior to the contest. Match time is 4 p.m. at Amon Field.