Brevard, N.C. - The Brevard College men’s soccer team has earned a historic berth in program history, making it to the NCAA postseason by achieving a berth in the 2010 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference men’s soccer tournament.
The Tornados achieved their position in the tournament by virtue of a pair of victories on the BC Soccer Field on September 28th against conference opponent Tusculum College and on October 23rd against Newberry College.
In the match against Tusculum, Renato Barbosa put Brevard on the board early, scoring in the eighth minute of play for his first goal of the season. Tusculum rallied back to go up 2-1, but the Tornados tied it up just before half time as Andrew Gallowitch found the net for his first collegiate goal of his career off the rebound of Jami Uuttu’s shot.
In the second half, Gallowitch struck again, this time sliding into the box to kick the ball past the keeper off the assist from Jaime Villacis to give the Tornados the 3-2 lead, but Tusculum would tie it up again in the 60th minute of this hard-fought match.
Gallowitch would strike again, completing his first career hat-trick at Brevard, taking the rebound off of Villacis’ shot attempt and placing it by the keeper into the back of the net in the 79th minute to give the Tornados the 4-3 win.
Needing one more conference victory on the year to clinch the postseason berth, the Tornados welcomed the Newberry College Wolves to the BC Soccer Field on October 23rd.
The Wolves struck first in the first four minutes of play to go up 1-0, but the Tornados responded as senior Henri Erti’s shot from outside the box deflected off a Newberry defender into the net in the 25th minute to tie up the match at 1.
The score remained tied heading into the half, but the Tornados struck quickly, finding twine just six minutes into the period as Villacis took the pass from Scott Schuurman, beating the Newberry keeper to put the Tornados up 2-1.
Jack Shaw and Pauli Jussila took the net for the Tornados in the match and sealed the victory for Brevard, earning the berth for the Tornados.
Gallowitch finished the regular season as the Brevard leader with four goals on the season, while Villacis, Uuttu and Sean Allison all had two goals on the year. Villacis is probably the most versatile offensive threat on the Brevard team as the freshman added six assists to his totals on the year to lead Brevard with 10 total points on the season and led the team with 45 shots on the year.
In goal, the dynamic duo of Shaw and Jussila recorded all but one of the starts in goal on the season and had all three victories for the Tornados on the season and will be expected to patrol the net again during the Brevard playoff run.
Their opponent for the first round will be tough, as they draw the #1-seed in the tournament in Wingate University. The Bulldogs defeated the Tornados earlier this season in Brevard, N.C. on October 9th, 6-1, scoring four goals in the first half on their way to the win, but the Bulldogs will be facing a different Tornados teams than earlier this season as Brevard has won two of their past four matches and will be ready to perform on the higher stage.
Kickoff for the quarterfinal match between the Tornados and the Bulldogs is set for 7 p.m. on Wednesday, November 3rd, in Wingate, N.C. at Wingate University.
Quarterfinal winners advance to the tournament semifinals, which will be held at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex in Rock Hill, S.C. on Friday, November 5. The two men’s semifinals will be played at 6 p.m.
The men’s tournament championship will be Sunday, November 7 at 4 p.m. at Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex. The championship match will be videostreamed live over the Internet.
Admission to all Food Lion South Atlantic Conference tournament events is $5 for adults and $2 for college students and children 13 and under.
Fans showing their Food Lion MVP card can save $1 off the adult admission price. Also, the South Atlantic Conference is collecting new, unused soccer balls, footballs or basketballs during the semifinals and championships in conjunction with WRHI’s Toys for Happiness campaign for Christmas gifts for underprivileged children. Fans donating a ball will receive two complimentary admissions.
Wednesday, November 4
Food Lion SAC Tournament quarterfinals
At higher seed
No. 8 Brevard at No. 1 Wingate, 7 p.m.
No. 7 Catawba at No. 2 Carson-Newman, TBA
No. 6 Lenoir-Rhyne at No. 3 Anderson, TBA
No. 5 Mars Hill at No. 4 Lincoln Memorial, TBA
Friday, November 6
Food Lion SAC Tournament Semifinals
At Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, SC
Brevard / Wingate winner vs. Mars Hill / Lincoln Memorial winner, 6 p.m.
Catawba / Carson-Newman winner vs. Lenoir-Rhyne / Anderson winner, 6 p.m.
Sunday, November 8
Food Lion SAC Tournament Championship
At Manchester Meadows, Rock Hill, SC
Semifinal winners, 4 p.m.
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