Thomas More earns sixth-straight PAC men’s soccer title

Thomas More earns sixth-straight PAC men’s soccer title

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PITTSBURGH, Pa. (pacathletics.org) – Top-seeded Thomas More College claimed the program’s sixth-straight Presidents’ Athletic Conference (PAC) title with its 1-0 victory over second-seeded Grove City College in the PAC Men’s Soccer Championship Tournament final Saturday afternoon at Highmark Stadium in Pittsburgh.

With Saturday's tournament title, Thomas More secured the PAC's automatic qualifier for the NCAA Division III Championship Tournament. The NCAA will announce its field and opening-round matchups for the Division III Championship Tournament on Monday, November 10 at 1:30 p.m. The selection show is scheduled to stream live at ncaa.com.

2014 PAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament – Semifinal
Saturday, November 8
Highmark Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pa.
#2 Grove City vs. #1 Thomas More
Thomas More 1, Grove City 0
After the two top-seeded programs in the championship tournament battled through a scoreless opening half, senior defender Pat Jacobson (Washington Borough, N.J. / Warren Hills) scored the eventual game-winner in the 59th minute for the Saints. Senior goalkeeper Matt Kees (Covington, Ky./Scott) registered nine saves in the shutout. Grove City freshman goalkeeper Malcolm Blake (Moreland Hills, Ohio/Orange) finished with eight saves in just his second collegiate start for the Wolverines.

2014 PAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament – Semifinal
Tuesday, November 4
College Field, Grove City, Pa.
#3 Waynesburg at #2 Grove City
Grove City 2, Waynesburg 1 (2OT)
Grove City sophomore midfielder Stephen Betteridge (Pittsford, N.Y./Pittsford-Mendon) scored in the 103rd minute to break a 1-1 deadlock and give the Wolverines a 2-1 double-overtime victory over visiting Waynesburg. Freshman goalkeeper Malcolm Blake (Moreland Hills, Ohio/Orange) made seven saves in his first collegiate start . Sophomore midfielder Dale Reese (Rocky Hill, Conn./Loomis Chaffee) opened the scoring in the seventh minute of play, giving the Wolverines a 1-0 advantage. Waynesburg senior midfielder Ray Melone (Philadelphia, Pa./Franklin Towne Charter) would even the match at 1-1 in the 80th minute when his corner kick found its way past Blake. Betteridge's game-winner, assisted by sophomore forward David Wurmlinger (Belle Vernon, Pa./Belle Vernon), was his fourth goal of the season. Waynesburg senior goalkeeper Brandon Daughtry (Lower Burrell, Pa./Burrell) finished with 13 saves in the loss.

2014 PAC Men's Soccer Championship Tournament – Semifinal
Tuesday, November 4
The Bank of Kentucky Field, Crestview Hills, Ky.
#4 Geneva at #1 Thomas More
Thomas More 2, Geneva 1 (2OT)
Thomas More assumed a 1-0 lead when sophomore midfielder Matthew Spanyer (Lexington, Ky./Paul Dunbar) scored unassisted in the 34th minute. Geneva evened the match at 1-1 in the 67th minute when freshman midfielder Gib McCracken (Beaver Falls, Pa./Beaver County Christian School) found the back of the net. The Saints netted the game-winning goal in the 109th minute when sophomore defender Tim Knauer (Batavia, Ohio/Batavia) slipped the ball past Geneva senior goalkeeper Bryan Butler (Millersville, Md./Annapolis Christian) off of a double assist from sophomore midfielder RJ Best (Lorton, Va./South County Secondary) and senior forward Jake Plummer (North Olmsted, Ohio/Hearts of Jesus Christ-Corpus Christi).
Senior goalkeeper Matt Kees (Covington, Ky./Scott) earned the win for the Saints. Butler totaled eight saves in the loss.