The Gannon men's soccer players celebrate their 2-1 win over Millersville in the NCAA Tournament.
2
Winner Gannon GANN (17-1-2, 9-0-1)
1
Millersville MILL (14-3-3, 9-1-2)
Winner
Gannon GANN
(17-1-2, 9-0-1)
2
Final
1
Millersville MILL
(14-3-3, 9-1-2)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 F
Gannon GANN 1 1 2
Millersville MILL 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer | | Bob Shreve, Assistant Director of Athletics Media Relations

Sixth-seed Gannon Turns in Strong Defensive Effort to Upset No. 3 Millersville 2-1 in Super Region 1 Second Round Match

MILLERSVILLE, Pa. – The Gannon men's soccer team turned in a spectacular defensive effort on Saturday afternoon to upset No. 3 seed Millersville in the second round of the NCAA Division II Super Region 1 Tournament. The No. 6 seed Golden Knights improved to 17-1-2 with a 2-1 victory and will now await the winner of the Charleston (WV)-Queens (NY) match in the third round. Charleston is the second seed and Queens the tenth seed.

All season long head coach Billy Colton's squad has been renowned for its high-powered attack that ranks second in Division II and set a school record for goals. Millersville, meanwhile, came in tied for the PSAC lead in fewest goals allowed with 15.

The Golden Knights were able to penetrate the Marauder defense twice for goals, but it was the work of the Gannon defense and goalkeeper Samuel Alarcon (Madrid, Spain/Colegio el Valle II) that really stood out. The lone goal Millersville would score came with just 34 seconds remaining on a penalty kick by Mike Kreider following a hand ball in the box.

Gannon controlled the ball for the final 34 seconds to snap Millersville's nine-game winning streak. Six days ago the Marauders had captured the PSAC championship at Gannon's McConnell Family Stadium with a 1-0 win over West Chester. Now Millersville sees its season come to an end at 14-3-3.

The Golden Knights snapped Millersville's string of five straight shutouts when Rafa Hyde (São José dos Campos, Brazil) found the back of the net at 18:34. The PSAC West Freshman of the Year, Hyde gathered in a loose ball and blasted a left-footed shot past Millersville goalkeeper Travis Holiday into the far right corner from ten yards outside the box. It was the freshman from Brazil's eighth goal of the season.

Both goalkeepers came up with big saves in the final minutes of the first half with Holliday tipping away a free kick and Samuel Alarcon (Madrid, Spain/Colegio el Valle II) gathering in a close header by PSAC East Athlete of the Year Bob Hennessey. Gannon held a 4-1 lead in shots at the half.

The complexion of the match changed early in the second half when Gannon moved ahead 2-0 just 64 seconds into the half. After Millersville failed on a free kick early in half Gannon advanced the ball to midfield, with a streaking Gabriel Delin (Stockholm, Sweden/Solna Gymansium) gathering in a pass. He took several dribbles and from just inside the right side of the box fired a low shot past an onrushing Holliday into the middle of the net. It was the junior's first goal of the season and first as a Golden Knight.

Millersville kept the pressure on the rest of the half looking to get on the scoreboard. Time again the Golden Knights were up to the challenge, playing with incredible energy. Alarcon, the PSAC West first team selection at goalkeeper, was stellar in goal fending off challenge after challenge. The sophomore would end with four saves.

Millersville would end the match with a 13-7 advantage in shots, with five on goal compared to three for Gannon. The Marauders also had seven corner kicks to four for the Golden Knights.

The 17 wins this season is tied for the fourth-highest season total. The 1983 team also won 17 matches. Gannon. The school record for wins is 20 set in 1985. Head coach Billy Colton's first team in 2019 finished with an 18-3-0 record and the 1989 squad also won 18 matches. Gannon won 17 matches in 1983.
 
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