Hempstead, N.Y. - The Adelphi University men's soccer team saw its season end in the NCAA Division II national quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon, as the East Region champions were upended by Atlantic Region championships West Chester University of Pennsylvania, 2-0.
Two second-half goals led the Golden Rams to the Final Four, as WCU's Doug Goitia scored just two minutes into the second half to put Adelphi (17-4-2) behind, before Stephen Thompson added insurance to send the second-seeded team from the Atlantic Region to the national semifinals in Pittsburgh after Thanksgiving.
The East Region's top seeds could not manufacture any sustained offensive pressure against a lauded West Chester (15-2-5) defense, and the Brown and Gold were out-shot 9-5 in the game and 5-1 in shots on goal.Â
After a scoreless opening half, the Brown and Gold fell behind early in the second stanza as Goitia took advantage of a defensive miscue in the Panther half, tapping the ball from the top of the box after Daniel Grindrod dribbled his way down from the middle of the field.
Two big saves from
Matt Apicella in the ensuing minutes kept the Rams' lead at just one goal, but they eventually broke through for second goal in the 74th minute. That effort was also contested, but it was Thompson who eventually took a rebounded ball off the post following a corner kick past Apicella for the insurance goal.
Adelphi's lone chance on net came on a free kick in the 77th minute, but
Paolo Marciano's strike was corralled by WCU keeper Will Marshall for his lone save of the contest.Â
About Adelphi Athletics
Adelphi University joined the Northeast-10 Conference in the fall of 2009, and in the past nine seasons, has collected 28 regular season conference titles, 30 tournament championships, 41Â individual crowns and captured the Northeast-10 Presidents' Cup four times (2013, 2014, 2016 and 2017), while winning six NCAA Division II National Championships.
For the latest on Adelphi University Athletics, follow the Panthers at www.aupanthers.com or via social media on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and Snapchat.
