Senators’ historic season ends in PKs
MEC foe the University of Charleston advances in NCAA tournament after shootout victory
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Photo courtesy of Franklin Pierce University
Davis & Elkins' Daniel Cerezo attempts to get past a pair of Charleston defenders during NCAA Division II Super 1 Region play Thursday in Rindge, N.H.
RINDGE, N.H. -- Davis & Elkins the University of Charleston provided another thrilling match in the fourth meeting of the season between the Mountain East Conference foes Thursday afternoon in NCAA Division II Super Region 1 play.
After the squads battled to a scoreless draw through regulation and a pair of overtime sessions, the Golden Eagles prevailed, 3-0, in penalty kicks to advance to the national quarterfinals.
During the regular season, the Senators handed UC a 1-0 loss, then the teams played to a 1-1 tie in Elkins in late October.
The Golden Eagles claimed a 4-1 win in the MEC tournament title game, with both schools earning NCAA berths.
Thursday's contest was a defensive showcase, as sixth-seed D&E limited second-seed UC to just one shot on goal, while the Senators attempted just four.
Senior keeper Jeremy Coste had one save for D&E and his Eagle goalie Marc Torrado had four stops.
Ian Martins stepped in at goalkeeper in the shootout for UC.
Once the game went to PKs, the Senators misfired on their first attempt and Gabriel Rodriguez converted for UC.
Adrian Camacho added the second PK for the winners after another D&E miss and Luis Maestre followed with a successful attempt to send the Golden Eagles into the quarterfinals against fourth-seed Millersville, which upset top-seed and host school Franklin Pierce (20-1-1) in PKs, 1-1 (5-4), in Thursday's other regional semifinal.
UC (18-1-2) and Millersville (15-5-2) will battle at 1 p.m. Saturday for a berth in the national semifinals. The Golden Eagles captured the last national tournament held in 2019.
The Senators, who ended the season with an 18-1-3 mark and captured the MEC regular-season title, had defeated Wilmington in the second round to advance in their seventh NCAA tourney appearance.
D&E's 18 victories in 2021 were the most in program history. The Senators were ranked as high as second in the nation during the season under coach Dean Johnson.