Gardner-Webb Men's Soccer: 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Champions
November 04, 2006 | Men's Soccer
Deland, F.L. – The 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Championship came down to the top two teams in the A-Sun this season as the No. 1 Stetson Hatters squared off with the No. 2 Gardner-Webb Runnin' Bulldogs on Saturday night, with the lower seeded Bulldogs, who were playing in their first-ever Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament, coming away with a thrilling 2-1 overtime victory over the Hatters.
The Hatters entered the championship game undefeated in conference play during the regular season, while the Bulldogs' only conference loss this season came by way of Stetson back in early September, which was a 3-2 victory for Stetson.
With both teams coming of first-round byes and big wins in the semifinals, play went back and forth early in the first period as neither team could get a shot off until the 11th minute.
Stetson broke through first taking advantage of a Bulldog defense mishap. The Hatters' Griffin Gilstrap took a shot from the right side of the box, hitting a GWU defender on the arm inside the box ensuing a hand-ball foul call by the official. Junior Tanner Wolfe stepped up to take the penalty kick for the Hatter's and knocked it past a diving Tyler Kettering to give the home team a 1-0 lead.
However, the Bulldogs answered back quickly when in the 31st minute senior Jamie Miller notched his third goal of the season. Off a Boris Gatzky corner kick, Miller received the ball in the air taking a shot from in front of the right post that cut through the Stetson defense and hit off the front left post, across the goal line and into the back of the net, knotting the score up at 1-1.
The Bulldogs and Hatters would trade shots for the remainder of the half with neither team able to score the go ahead goal, leaving the score at 1-1 going into halftime.
The second half started off very similar to the way the first half ended as both teams traded off controlling the ball, going back and forth with neither team able to get behind the other squad's defense.
In the 51st minute, sophomore Chris Salvaggione had a breakaway along the right side streaking past the Stetson defender only to have his shot blocked by a diving Alessandro Barcherini. Junior Richard Godfrey gathered the rebounded shot and set up for a shot, knocking the ball off his left foot just high of the net.
Two minutes later, GWU's Gatzky took a shot form the left side of the box trying to loft the ball past Stetson's keeper Barcherini, who got a hand up just in time to punch the ball over the net and out of bounds.
In the 57th minute of the match, Stetson's Alex Robinson tried to give the Hatters the lead with a laser shot from 25 feet out, shooting the ball just wide of the goal and a diving Kettering.
Stetson's next chance came in the 65th minute as Wolfe dribbled the ball into the middle of the field just outside the 18-yard box and took a shot, sending it right into the arms of a waiting Kettering.
Stetson and Wolfe's next chance came nine minutes later in the 74th minute, when he took a shot, putting it high over the goal from 10 yards out.
Kettering came up big once again for the ‘Dogs in the 76th minute of the match when he corralled a Stetson shot right in front of the net, halting the Hatters' attack and giving the ball back to the Bulldog offense.
With the Bulldog offense continuously putting pressure on the Stetson defense, Godfrey found himself behind the defense and received a cross in traffic, putting the shot on goal and into the arms of a diving Barcherini.
The Bulldogs' last effort in regulation came with only 10 seconds remaining. Godfrey got his head on a Carlton Hughes cross in front of the net causing Stetson's Barcherini to make a jump save on the play to preserve the 1-1 tie and send the game into overtime.
For the second half, the Bulldogs out-shot the No. 1 seeded Hatters 9-7, as the ‘Dogs put six of those on goal.
The overtime period was no different for the ‘Dogs as they came out firing. In the 93rd minute of the match, freshman George Tasedan found himself free at the top of the 18-yard box and shot a driving attempt to the top left of the goal. Stetson's Barcherini was able to get just enough of his fingers on the ball to send it sailing over the goal, denying the game-winning goal.
Senior Carlton Hughes got open on the right side of the box after receiving a pass from Tasedan. Hughes did not miss and notched the game-winning goal with only 3:11 remaining in the first overtime period to give the win to the Bulldogs and crowning them the 2006 Atlantic Sun Conference Tournament Champions.
The Bulldogs headlined the All-Tournament team as they had five players receive the honor. Seniors Tyler Kettering, Carlton Hughes and Jamie Miller along with sophomores Chris Salvaggione and Dirk Dittrich were all named to the All-Tournament team. Dittrich was also named the Tournament MVP with his stellar performances on the defensive side of the field in both of GWU's tournament matches.
The win gives the Bulldogs an automatic bid to the NCAA Championships that begin play next week. GWU will find out Monday evening who it will play.
| Box Score |
| 2006 Men's Soccer Team Stats (Printable) |
