Sunday, November 15, 2009

BUIES CREEK, N.C. - Stetson held off Mercer, 2-1, to capture the 2009 Atlantic Sun Men's Soccer Championship, on Sunday afternoon, from the Eakes Athletics Complex.

Stetson (14-3-2) scored twice in the first half and held off a furious second half charge by Mercer (7-11-2) to earn the Atlantic Sun title and the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Championship Tournament. The title ranks as Stetson’s second Atlantic Sun Men’s Soccer Championship, adding to the crown won in 2005. 

The Hatters found the net early in the third minute by the conference’s leading scorer and All-Atlantic Sun First-Team performer Griffin Gilstrap. The goal came as part of the first charge down the field for Stetson. Gilstrap ran a give and go down the left side with fellow first-team all-conference selection, Kevin Munz, to give the Hatters an early lead. The goal for Gilstrap ranks as the first for the senior since finding the net against Mercer in the regular season on Oct. 24.

Gilstrap then gave Stetson a two goal advantage in the 28th minute with a brilliant right footed strike from just inside the 18-yard box. Fellow senior Munz set up the goal with a solid pass while Ryan Corning earned the second assist. 

Despite giving up two first half goals, Mercer goalkeeper Brett Petricek kept the Bears in the match with some solid saves and clearances. Petricek, a member of the A-Sun All-Freshman team, posted five saves in the match and kept the door open for a second half charge by Mercer. 

The Bears played with a different pace in the second half and it paid off in the 70th minute when Arkenson Neckles picked a great time to score his second goal of the season. Following a foul on Stetson, Mercer set up a free kick and first-team all-conference selection Ian Cameron placed a cross right near the middle of the 6-yard box and Neckles’ head did the rest.


The goal came after a critical offsides call against Stetson. It looked as if Gilstrap had put the game away early in the second half and completed a hat trick with his third goal of the match. However, one of the linesmen had his flag up, disallowing the goal.

Following the goal by Neckles, the Bears continued to pressure the Stetson back line and tried desperately to find an equalizer. Mercer’s Ryan Young fired a shot from outside the 18-yard box that stuck the cross bar, while Stetson goalkeeper Logan Potter cleaned up a scramble after a Bears corner kick and the Hatters held on for the victory. 

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The Atlantic Sun Conference is an 11-member league committed to Building Winners for Life. The A-Sun stands for achievement with integrity in both the academic and athletic arenas, with a focus on the balance between the two for our student-athletes. Headquartered in Macon, Ga., the A-Sun boasts six of the top eight media markets in the Southeast. The A-Sun includes a blend of the most prestigious and dynamic private and public institutions in the region: Belmont University, Campbell University, East Tennessee State University, Florida Gulf Coast University, Jacksonville University, Kennesaw State University, Lipscomb University, Mercer University, University of North Florida, University of South Carolina Upstate and Stetson University.