Senators champs of regular season
PHILIPPI — The Davis & Elkins College Senators Men’s Soccer team clinched the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Regular Season Championship on Tuesday with a 2-0 victory over rival Alderson Broaddus.
With the win, the Senators (10-3-3, 9-2-1 G-MAC) clinched the top overall seed in next week’s championship tournament, which will be hosted in Elkins.
The Senators entered the day with a one-point advantage over Ohio Valley (11-5-1, 8-3-1 G-MAC) in the conference standings, meaning that only a win guaranteed first place.
D&E didn’t leave anything to chance as the Senators rallied for two second-half goals to break a scoreless tie to defeat rival Alderson Broaddus (8-7-2, 7-5-0 G-MAC) and claim the rivalry victory and the championship.
With the game still tied, it was the Senators’ captain, Lukas Grosse-Puppendahl, who broke open the game with a header in the 55th minute to give the Senators the lead. It was the senior’s fifth goal of the season.
D&E didn’t stop there, as Tim Staerz took a pass from Abel Ameyaw and beat Sergio Prieto for the much-needed insurance goal, doubling the Senators’ lead. It was the freshman’s fifth goal of the season as well.
Everton Carvalho did his part in goal, making just his second start and notching his second complete game. Carvalho stopped eight Battlers shots for his first career cleansheet with the Senators.
The championship is the second regular season title for the Senators since joining the G-MAC. D&E also won the regular season championship in 2013.
The Senators will now wait for the opening round games of the G-MAC Conference Tournament to learn their next opponent. The Senators will host the semifinals and finals on Nov. 3 and 5.