Men's Soccer

Campbell Claims A-Sun Regular Season Title
Campbell Claims A-Sun Regular Season Title

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Campbell scored twice in the first 8:43 and went on to defeat Jacksonville 2-1 Saturday night at the Eakes Athletic Complex to claim its second-straight Atlantic Sun Conference men's soccer regular season championship.

Goals from Vince Petrasso and Keegan Terry provided the Camels with the decisive win that lifted the program to its third A-Sun regular season title in the last five years.  Campbell, which has improved its league record to 32-5-5 during that span, will host the league semifinals (Nov. 12) and title match (Nov. 14) for the second year in a row.

"I'm proud of the perseverance we showed through the month of October after a rough September," said Campbell head coach Doug Hess.  "It was a massive test of our team's will coming into conference play at 1-6 with the challenge of still believing we're a better team than our results."

The Camels took the lead in the seventh minute of play when Justin Madrid dribbled through the midfield and slipped a through pass to Petrasso behind the JU back line.  The senior slid a left-footed shot by keeper Joey Sanchez for his fourth goal of the season.

Just two minutes later, the Camels doubled the advantage when freshman Terry nodded home his fourth strike of the year.  Cardenas touched a corner kick to Petrasso, who stopped the ball for Cardenas to deliver a left-footed service that Terry met about 10 yards from the net.

Jacksonville's best chance of the first half came in the 11th minute when Nedim Hrustic turned at the top of the box, but his right-footed effort slid wide of the left post.

The Dolphins pulled within 2-1 in the 53rd minute when Eddie Munnelly stole a pass in the midfield and scored on a long shot that deflected off Camel keeper Ted Awana's hands and into the net.

Campbell nearly pushed the margin back to a pair of goals in the 62nd minute when Petrasso laid the ball off to Terry, but his right-footed blast sailed high and wide of the upper right corner.