Date Posted: 10/28/2007

MACON, Ga. - Entering the final day of men's soccer conference play, the regular-season title and the final Championship berth were still up for grabs. Jacksonville secured the regular-season title by defeating Belmont 2-0. At the other end of the tournament spectrum, Gardner-Webb, needing at least a tie against Florida Gulf Coast to make the field, took down the Eagles with a goal by Logan Swaim in the 84th minute to leapfrog Mercer for the sixth and final spot.

Jacksonville entered Sunday one point clear of Campbell, who completed A-Sun play the night before, and two points ahead of Stetson. Nedim Hrustic opened the scoring with a goal in the 25th minute and less than 10 minutes later, Player of the Year candidate Anton Axelsson scored his A-Sun leading 12th goal of the season. Jacksonville needed the win since Stetson defeated USC Upstate 1-0 in double overtime. With that win, the Hatters passed Campbell for the No. 2 seed and earned a bye into the semifinals of the Men's Soccer Championship presented by Bealls Outlet. The Hatters will be hosting the Championship, which begins on Wednesday, November 14.

Since 1999, the No. 1 seed advanced to the finals in six of the last seven Atlantic Sun Conference Men's Soccer Championships. Three of the last four title games featured a meeting of the No. 1 seed vs. the No. 2 seed.

Gardner-Webb's win set up a quarterfinal match with in-state rival, and No.3 seed Campbell, set for 7:00pm on the 14th. Campbell defeated Gardner-Webb 4-3 on October 18. They met in the semifinals of the 2006 Championship. Gardner-Webb beat Campbell 2-0 en route to the conference title. The opening quarterfinal showcases another rivalry, Lipscomb, the No. 4 seed against Belmont, the fifth seed. The two battled to a scoreless tie on September 28 at Lipscomb. Their match kicks off the tournament at 4:30pm.

The Atlantic Sun Conference is a 12-member league committed to Building Winners for Life, with a focus on academic and athletic integrity and a balance between the two for the student-athlete, and maintaining a high level of sportsmanship. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun encompasses six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun consists of some of the most dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Gardner-Webb University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.

Related Links:
 • Championship Coverage