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John Carroll University Athletics

home of the Blue Streaks
Jack Foht scored the game-winning goal vs. St. Mary's
Dale Armbruster
The Blue Streaks will face host Mary Washington on Sunday.
0
St. Mary's (MD) SMC (11-7-4)
1
Winner John Carroll JCUM (14-5-2)
St. Mary's (MD) SMC
(11-7-4)
0
Final
1
John Carroll JCUM
(14-5-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
St. Mary's (MD) SMC 0 0 0
John Carroll JCUM 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Gianluca DiGiacomo, Staff Writer

Men's Soccer Fights Past St. Mary's (MD) and into the 2nd Round of NCAA Tourney

FREDERICKSBURG, Va. -- On Saturday afternoon, John Carroll's Men Soccer traveled to unfamiliar territory as the program's quest for a national championship commenced.

After a long six-hour bus ride the day prior, the Blue Streaks came in great spirits for their first round match against St. Mary's College of Baltimore, a team looking to continue their brilliant story after winning four conference tournament matches, ultimately advancing after their penalty kicks victory over Rosemont. It would be the Seahawks' first berth into the NCAA Tournament in the program's history.

The Seahawks, coming into this one with an 11-6-4 record on the season, would be led by a monopoly of offensive involvement; Zack Glime led the team with eleven goals and two assists, Elliot Hodges not far behind with nine goals and two assists, and Abdoul Anounkou with seven goals and two assists. Three players at their peaks combined for 27 goals and 6 assists on the season leading the charge for the squad.

An exciting first rounder preceded this one, with the University of Mary Washington conquering Neumann after a last-minute equalizer from Neumann. Despite a valiant last-ditch effort from the visitors, Mary Washington knocked in two goals during the first period of overtime to seal it.

Now it was the Blue Streaks' turn, who secured their advancement to the second round in an exhilarating 1-0 victory.

An absolutely beautiful afternoon in Virginia would set the stage for a class performance all around from both teams. A sunny day with not a cloud to be seen created a great environment for fans and parents at the Battleground Athletic Complex.

With the whistle of the head official, the match was underway. Both squads would be shot out of a cannon, the first 15 minutes being the most eventful in the grand scheme of things. Each side of the ball would have blistering offensive progression, and some really promising buildups. 

In the 13th minute of play, a blundered pass gave a golden chance for the Seahawks from the right hand side of the box, but Brenden Moher would come up with a nice save at the front post. 

Two minutes later, John Carroll would have a golden chance within eight yards of goal, but a heroic double save from the St. Mary's keeper Matthew Kopsidas kept the Blue Streaks off of the scoresheet.

Five minutes after that, the keeper Kopsidas made a kick save of a chance from Jaden Wright, a wonderful kick save to once again leave the Seahawks unscathed.

The quantity of chances would slowly begin to dwindle as the half progressed, and the teams went into the half scoreless.

Although the game was quite evenly-matched, both sides would have completely different perspectives of the first forty-five. John Carroll created chances through more methodical buildups—dealing well with pressure and enjoying their time on the ball. St. Mary's, on the other hand, perhaps not as prominent in the possession game, but maximized their time on the ball, and thus made the best of John Carroll's mistakes to use their athleticism to the fullest extent.

Coming into the half, the Blue Streaks yearned for more danger in their attacking third, and Head Coach Dejan Mladenovic '06 rode home on minimizing mistakes for the Seahawks to prey upon.

The second half produced much of what the first half had; stellar back and forth action between the two sides, but neither being able to find that much-needed end product.

With frustration growing more and more prominent, something was bound to give. Time was waiting for nobody and the Blue Streaks needed a hero. Low and behold, a duo of Pennsylvania natives combined to score for the Cleveland-based team to pull forward in northern Virginia.

Off of a loss in possession on the near-side of the pitch from the Seahawks, Izac Coleman would feed Nicholas Graeca around midfield. Graeca would bolt by a handful of defenders, beating a pack of Seahawks off of the dribble and squaring the ball across to the Erie-native Jack Foht. Foht would swipe all the ball with the left foot and finally managed to slot one past the keeper Kopsidas, giving John Carroll a much-deserved goal in the 77th minute of play.

Now St. Mary's were forced to fancy a far more aggressive approach than before, and were promptly met with similar energy with John Carroll's new wave of enthusiasm after a critical goal. Besides a chance at the far post after a cross from the Seahawks, the remainder of the match was largely in favor of the Blue Streaks. After an exhausting test of will, John Carroll would come away with a massive win and a ticket to Sunday's spot against the University of Mary Washington.

Impending a match against the #2 team in the country, head coach Dejan Mladenovic noted that he was in good spirits alongside the team.

"It took us a little longer to get into the game than we would have liked, but really proud of our guys' effort," said Mladenovic. "They battled through the adversity and they figured out a way to win, and that's all that matters…the boys know we have to manage every single second going into tomorrow. We have a lot of respect for Mary Washington, we know how good they are/have been. We are going to do everything we can to get ready for tomorrow, and put out the best effort possible."

Upon the results, St. Mary's historic run as a program comes to a close after a commendable season and a fantastic effort from the Battleground. 

Meanwhile, John Carroll will improve to a 14-5-2 record on the season, and are looking to go toe-to-toe with one of the country's best on their home turf tomorrow, 1 p.m. kickoff.
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