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11/17/2007 - MEN'S SOCCER
Campbell Advances Past Jacksonville, 5-4 in PKs
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DeLAND, Fla. - For the first time in the 27-year history of the Atlantic Sun Men's Soccer Championship, penalty kicks decided the tournament outcome. Tournament MVP Vince Petrasso deposited a penalty kick just beyond the outstretched arms of Jacksonville's Matt Gilman, lifting the Campbell Camels to their first Atlantic Sun title after having lost in three previous finals. The Camels advanced past the Dolphins 5-4 in penalty kicks following a 1-1 tie on Saturday at the Stetson Soccer Complex in the 27th Men's Soccer Championship, presented by Bealls Outlet.
Following 90 minutes of regulation and two 10-minute overtimes, the Dolphins (11-7-2) and Camels (13-5-3) made A-Sun history as for the first time, penalty kicks would decide the champion. Each team made their first four but after Jacksonville's Brian Cocciolo missed high, the stage was set for Petrasso. The sophomore had already scored three goals in the Championship and nearly had come through with the winner in regulation but Gilman thwarted his desperation drive towards net in the waning seconds when the two collided. With the title and the school's first NCAA Tournament berth on his foot, Petrasso came through with low shot that just grazed the hands of Gilman.
"At the end of the game, I went right up to coach and told him I wanted to be the last shooter," Petrasso said. "I was very confident and I thought this was my tournament."
The scoring commenced in the 33rd minute when Jacksonville senior Anton Axelsson, the Atlantic Sun Conference's Player of the Year, scored his conference-leading 16th of the season after receiving a pass from Riley Butler. He beat Aaron Johnson with a low shot to the keeper's right. The goal marked the 14th time Jacksonville has scored first in one of its matches. Saturday's outcome marked just the third time of those 14 that the Dolphins failed to secure the win.
First-Team All-Atlantic Sun midfielder Richard Jata made his presence known 15 minutes into the second half, tying the score with a direct kick in the 60th minute. The goal, his ninth, and third of the championship, came after Jata spent much of the first half on the bench following an injury. A miscommunication between coaches led to Jata being inadvertently substituted and forcing him to the bench for the final 30 minutes of the first half. The Camels extended their unbeaten streak to 13 in games in which Jata scored a goal, dating back to the 2006 season.
"We were going to put someone in the game for someone else," Hess said. "I went out there to check on Richard and I did not relay that to my assistants before I went out there, so they ended up changing the sub for Richard. He had to sit the rest of the half, but we got through it."
Defenders Stephen Oyuga and Michael Hutchison along with goalkeeper Aaron Johnson joined Petrasso and Jata on the All-Tournament team. Axelsson, plus Jonathon Jackson and Eddie Munnelly made the team from the Dolphins. Johnson allowed just two goals in 290 minutes in net, one of which came via penalty kick.
"Any free kick that I get I feel like I am dangerous," Jata said of his goal. "My grandpa came to see me play for the first time and I wanted to put it in for him. I put it across the goal and Oyuga created some confusion for the goalie who let it go and it rolled in the back post."
The Camels will learn their NCAA Tournament fate on Monday between 5:30 and 6:00 pm when the 48-team field will be announced on ESPNews.
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.
