Men's Soccer Hosts Wesley in CAC First Round Saturday
OWINGS MILLS, Md. - Following its first 10-win season since 2006, the Stevenson men's soccer team will look for its first conference championship in the program's 16-year history when its hosts Wesley in a first round game in the 2009 CAC Men's Soccer Championship on Saturday at Caves Athletics Complex.
Fans who come to the game dressed in their favorite Halloween costume will be entered into a drawing to win giveaways from local restaurants. Live statistics and live video of Saturday's game will also be available at gomustangsports.com.
Ironically, the Mustangs (10-8) earned the tournament's fourth-seed and a home game in the first round by virtue of its 2-1 victory at Wesley on Sunday.
Saturday's other first round matchup will have sixth-seeded Marymount (Va.) traveling to third-seeded Mary Washington. Game time is also at 1:00 p.m.
The winner between Marymount and Mary Washington will then head to second-seeded York to face the 17th-ranked Spartans on Wednesday, November 4 in the semifinals while either Stevenson or Wesley will travel to top-seed and defending champion Salisbury.
The 24th-ranked Sea Gulls secured the regular season title after finishing the conference schedule unbeaten.
This year's conference championship will be decided on Saturday, November 7.
In the team's only first CAC tournament appearance in 2007, sixth-seeded Stevenson upset third-seeded Mary Washington on the road with a 1-0 shutout. Current junior Nick Gault (Baltimore/McDonogh) tallied the game's only goal with three seconds remaining in regulation while Eric Lowman finished with seven saves as the Mustangs were outshot 19-6.
Stevenson was later defeated in the semifinals at second-seeded York (Pa.), 8-0.
The Mustangs have won five-straight overall and five out of eight at home this season. Their winning streak is the longest since the team won a school record eight consecutive in 2005.
Stevenson's 10 wins are also the most since it won 11 in 2006. The school record for a single-season is 15 set in 2005.
In a 2-1 victory at Wesley on Sunday, freshman Ansger Otto (Willingboro, N.J./Willingboro) scored in the 85th minute to secure the Mustangs' spot in the CAC Men's Soccer Championship.
Otto, who was named CAC Co-Player of the Week on Monday, leads the team with nine goals this season, the most by a Mustang since Scott Andrzejewski has 12 in 2006.
Defensively, sophomore Ryan Flannelly (Middlesex, N.J./Middlesex) ranks third in the CAC in goals against average and fourth in saves percentage. He is also fourth in shutouts.
