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Young Harris Captures PBC Men’ s Soccer Tournament Title in PK Shootout
EVANS, GA – Young Harris found themselves facing a deficit twice during the PBC men’ s soccer tournament championship game on Sunday and twice answered the call to take the title in a shootout over Lander. The two teams were tied at 2-2 following 110 minutes of action; Young Harris took the title with a 4-3 edge in the shootout.
The title is the third in a row for the Mountain Lions, who become the first PBC team to win three straight titles since USC Upstate from 2001-03. The third of the Upstate titles was also in a PK shootout.
On Sunday, the two teams played a scoreless first half despite a pressure attack from Young Harris. Lander finally broke through early in the second half as Hugo Delhommelle curled a free kick around the YHC defensive wall and into the net at the 57:08 mark.
That lead was short-lived as Young Harris answered back just 28 seconds later as Carlos Gomez cleaned up a free kick in the Lander box. Ramin Varnhorn had the assist.
The with each subsequent minute become more intense, Lander scored once again in the 69th minute. Conor Felstead took a great pass from Michael Leach and buried it with a flick and a 2-1 Lander lead.
But once again, the Mountain Lions responded. With 13 minutes left to play, Marco Micaletto found a loose ball after a corner kick and planted it home to tie the score.
Lander had two more good chances to get a goal as Delhommelle
took two more free kick attempts; the first missing outside by less than a foot and the second clanging off the post. Young Harris also had a shot bounce off the crossbar in the overtime period.
The game was the third PBC championship contest to go to a shootout, the first since 2009. Lander went first with a goal from Jordan Skelton. He was answered by YHC’ s Anthony Tshimpi. LU’ s Delhommelle and YHC’ s Jonny Denton also connected on their penalties.
Young Harris got the edge in round three as goalkeeper Anton Viden, who was inserted just for the PK shootout, made a save on Lander’ s Richard Bryan. YHC’ s Micaletto then scored to give the Mountain Lions the edge. Oliver Brock scored for Lander and Sam Jones for Young Harris. Ianis Ghachem’ s miss in round five sealed the win for Young Harris.
Lander men’ s soccer to face Limestone in NCAA Tournament
GREENWOOD – The No. 18-ranked Lander men’ s soccer team learned its postseason fate when the NCAA announced the 38-team bracket for the 2016 Division II National Tournament on Monday evening. Lander was the only PBC team selected to the field.( Tournament Bracket)
The Bearcats( 14-3-1) are the fifth-seed in the NCAA Southeast Regional and will face fourth-seeded and No. 25-ranked Limestone( 15-3) at 7 p. m., Friday, at Wingate University in Wingate, N. C. The
2016-17