LAKELAND, Fla.- In a physical, passionate postseason match, the third-seeded Southeastern University men's soccer team surpassed the Ave Maria University Gyrenes 3-0 in The Sun Conference Men's Soccer Tournament Quarterfinal to advance to the semifinals. With the win, the Fire improved to 3-0 versus the Gyrenes this season.
Senior goalkeeper
Jonathan Wojciki was dominant again versus AMU in his third start of the season against the Gyrenes, recording four saves and successfully defending eight corner kicks in the shutout.
Although the Fire were out-shot 8-5 in the first half, including 3-1 on goal, SEU made its lone shot on frame in the first 45 minutes of play count. Senior midfielder
Noah Richmond received a short pass to the top of the 18 from senior forward
Ben-Avir Espinal, which Richmond crossed to the far post where senior midfielder
Julian Hall tapped it in to put SEU ahead of AMU 1-0 in the 22nd minute.
Wojciki recorded three of his four saves in the first half, as the Fire took a 1-0 advantage over the Gyrenes into the locker room.
"We knew it was going to be a tough game and we were going to have to give the full effort for the full 90 minutes," shared SEU head coach
Clay Roberts. "We stuck to the plan in the second half, we made a tactical adjustment of going with one forward up top instead of two to put more pressure on them."
The Gyrenes successfully maintained a one-goal deficit until Hall provided the heroics for SEU once again, as he buried a short cross from graduate midfielder
Grayson Wilkes into the upper 90, propelling the Fire ahead 2-0 in the 63rd minute.
The Fire placed the exclamation point on their victory in the 77th minute, when sophomore forward
Bruno Conceicao slotted a through ball from senior midfielder
Joshua Ruckdeschel far post to put Southeastern up 3-0.
"We had fantastic character in keeping ourselves composed down the stretch and I am very proud of our guys' effort tonight to advance us on to the next round," added Coach Roberts.
With the win, the Fire advanced to the TSC Semifinals for a third-straight season. SEU will travel to Miami Gardens next Tuesday to take on second-seeded St. Thomas for a place in the conference championship match. Game time is set for 5:00 p.m.
