Date Posted: 11/8/2005

Macon, Ga. – A berth in the NCAA Men’s College Cup awaits the winner of this week’s 2005 Atlantic Sun Championship hosted by Mercer University in Macon, Ga., on November 10-12.

The entire season boils down to the final match of a long weekend in the A-Sun. The winner of Saturday night’s match will earn the tournament title as well as the A-Sun’s automatic bid. Top-seeded Campbell beat every team in the in the field during the regular season and boasts one of the nation’s most high-powered offenses. The Guadarrama brothers lead the Camels. Willy, a sophomore forward, is the nation’s only 20-goal scorer heading into the postseason and also leads the NCAA in total points. Sonny, a freshman midfielder, has posted 11 goals and five assists in his debut season and is one of the most productive offensive rookie in the country. Goalkeeper Aaron Johnson led the A-Sun with his 0.97 goals against average and carries an 11-3-1 record into the tourney.

While the Camels have made headlines, a pair of polar opposites is anxious for a chance to knock off the regular season champs. Jacksonville, behind the play of the NCAA’s second leading scorer Tommy Krizanovic, ranks eighth nationally in goals per game. The Dolphins managed just a 1-3-1 mark against the field, but all three losses were by one goal and two were decided in overtime. Florida Atlantic was a preseason favorite to capture the tournament title. Displaced by a hurricane just two weeks ago, the Owls stumbled with a pair of losses on the final weekend of play to drop into a first round match. Anders Granstad leads a defense that has surrendered just a 1.40 GAA and earned five shutouts.

On the other side of the bracket, Stetson erased the memories of a disappointing non-conference slate to earn the No. 2 seed and a first round bye. Tanner Wolfe who has collected 30 points this season and is the third A-Sun player to rank in the top-15 nationally in scoring paces the Hatters offensively. Stetson will be making their third semifinal appearance in the last four seasons. Preseason favorite and host Mercer will face Belmont in the first round match in this half of the bracket. The Bears played a remarkably tough non-conference schedule and it paid off with a 4-2-2 A-Sun mark. The Bears’ 13 A-Sun Championship victories are the most by any current member of the conference. The Bruins are making their third straight postseason appearance, but Belmont is still looking for their first victory in the tournament.

Florida Atlantic and Jacksonville will get the three-day event started with their first round match at 4:00 pm on Thursday afternoon.

Related Links:
 • Match-Up Capsules
 • Postseason Awards