Saints, Yellowjackets win semifinals to set up familiar UMAC men's soccer title game
Photo credit St. Scholastica Athletics Communications (Derek Montgomery)
ST. PAUL, Minn.--- The Upper Midwest Athletic Conference (UMAC) men's soccer postseason started off in thrilling fashion with an overtime period in the quarterfinal Monday. The semifinal games that followed were even more exciting as both were decided by just one goal and one game needed overtime before a victor emerged Thursday.
No. 1 College of St. Scholastica and No. 2 University of Wisconsin-Superior used home-field advantage in the chilly North Shore to advance to championship game for the third-straight season Saturday.
The No. 1-seed Saints scored two unanswered goals to defeated No. 4 University of Minnesota Morris 2-1 while No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior scored just over a minute into overtime to take down No. 3 University of Northwestern 2-1.
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Tournament Site |
Semifinal Recap 1 |
Semifinal Recap 2 |
No. 1 St. Scholastica def. No. 4 Minnesota Morris 2-1 |
Box Score |
Earlier in the season, No. 4 Minnesota Morris upset No. 1 St. Scholastica to end the Saints' NCAA record unbeaten streak, setting the tone for what would be an exciting semifinal. Despite scoring first, the Cougars couldn't hold off the Saints who had revenge on their minds and another trip to the tourney championship.
In the 36th minute, the Cougars' Denis Ostroushko broke the deadlock when he scored off a rebound from a Zachary Jacobsen shot to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. The Saints couldn't break through until the second half when Juan Ochoa beat the Cougar keeper to the far post in the 63rd minute to tie the game.
Noah Hooey scored in th 75th minute off a cross from Jacob Carson to help the Saints take the lead for the first time en route to victory. Sandy Davidson-Hunt kept the Saints in the game making three saves, while Cody Christ for the Cougars turned away four shots.
No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior No. 3 Northwestern |
Box Score |
During the regular season, No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior scored five goals in routing No. 3 Northwestern. However, with a trip to the playoff tile game on the line, Thursday's semifinal was sure to be a closer contest than in the previous meeting and it definitely didn't disappoint.
The Yellowjackets got on the board first in the 27th minute when Gunnar O'Neil-Sengbu tapped in a cross inside the box to give his squad the lead. Wisconsin-Superior would remain in control until half time and it wasn't until the 77th minute that the Eagles found the equalizer with a goal from Taylor Modaff off a corner kick.
Neither squad could muster another goal in regulation and the game moved into overtime. The additional period didn't last long, though. Just over a minute in, the Yellowjackets scored on a free kick opportunity just outside the box from Fernando Bicahlo to set up a rematch with the Saints.
Playoff Schedule
Quarterfinal Round – Monday, Oct. 30
No. 4 Minnesota Morris def. No. 5 Martin Luther 1-0 (2OT) |
Box Score |
Semifinal Round – Wednesday, Nov. 1
No. 1 St. Scholastica def. No. 4 Minnesota Morris 2-1 |
Box Score |
No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior def. No. 3 Northwestern 2-1 (OT) |
Box Score |
Championship – Saturday, Nov. 4
No. 2 Wisconsin-Superior AT No. 1 St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minn., 5 p.m. |
Live Stats |
Live Video |
Ticket Information
All UMAC postseason events have the following set admissions prices: Adults, $7; college students and seniors, $5; youth (Age 6-18), $3; age 5 and under, FREE. Any UMAC students, faculty and staff are free with a valid and current institutional ID. No other passes will be accepted.
All tournament information including scores, recaps, team information and more can be found on the UMAC Men’s SoccerTournament page. Keep up with all of the tournament action on Twitter and Instagram using #UMACchamp.