By Mckenzie Masters
Sports Co-Editor
Union’s men’s soccer team clinched a semifinal spot in the National Christian College Athletic Association Championship Nov. 28 in Kissimmee, Fla., in a double-overtime battle against Grace College (Ind.) that led to penalty kicks.
The road to victory was laid by a 3-2 penalty shootout in Union’s favor.
“It was nerve-wracking to watch the team take the [penalty kicks],” said William Murray, senior engineering major and 2010-2012 team captain. “And I was delighted to see that they were able to pull out the victory in spite of being a player down.”
Murray is referring to what he called a controversial red card issued to senior defender Alysson Mohl by the referee.
Mohl, who was ejected from the game during overtime, will miss play in the semifinal game Nov. 29 because of the call. In addition, the team had to play one player short during overtime after the red card was issued.
In the first round of penalty kicks, Guillerme Reis, senior forward, and Cody Styx, junior defender, scored the goals.
Rainer Pires, senior goalkeeper, contributed to the quarterfinal win with three golden saves, one of which took place during the sudden death round.
In that round, Alex Pratt, sophomore forward, sealed the win for Union’s advance into the NCCAA semifinals.
Prior to the national championship tournament, the team clinched the NCCAA MidEast Region title Nov. 17, with a 1-0 win against Covenant College, opening the door to compete in the national tournament, which ends Dec. 1 in Kissimmee, Fla.
“I think one of our biggest accomplishments is moving up to the NCAA level and finishing second in that conference,” said J. Landham, men’s assistant soccer coach. “We kind of came into a new and very difficult conference and made a name for ourselves.”
Brian Castro, junior sports medicine major, was jubilant about winning the regional title.
“I know it is cliché, but it is an amazing feeling [to win] because last time the Union men’s soccer team were champions was nine years ago,” Castro said. “So to have the privilege of calling yourselves regional champions and taking pictures with the banner makes all the hard work every single player and coaching staff put into the season worth it. The fruit of hard work has paid off, and Nationals are no longer a dream. We will be playing in it.”
The team’s season began in August.
Coach Clovis Simas said many factors contributed to its success.
“First, it would be the quality of the players that we have,” Simas said. “Second would be the work that they’ve put (in) on the field since August. Third would be having a great season and a great record that led us where we are now.”
Landham said the season was filled with high and low points.
“I feel like at the beginning of the season, we kind of started slow, and we dropped some games to some teams that we should have beat,” Landham said. “We kind of sat back, we did a lot of work, but we are playing a completely different style and level than we were at the beginning of the year.”
Luka Perkovic, junior business administration major, applauded his team.
“I am proud to be part of this great team of players who are my family on the field and in real life,” he said.
