BOCA RATON, Fla.--The No. 7 Trojans faced No. 10 Lincoln Memorial in the First Round of the NCAA Championships hosted at No. 2 Lynn on Friday afternoon, and after a second-straight 110-minute game, AU got the better of this match's penalty shootout and claimed the 0-0 (3-2) victory. Anderson (11-1-6) move on to play Lynn (13-2-2) in the Second Round on Sunday (Nov. 23).
The Trojans looked to avenge the Railsplitters in tonight's match after LMU handed AU their first and only loss so far this season last month. Lincoln Memorial won the South Atlantic Conference Championship to earn an automatic bid to the national bracket, while Anderson earned an at-large bid after a historic season.
Offensively, Lincoln Memorial tallied 13 shots to Anderson's seven with both sides recording two SOG. LMU's keeper and Franco Antoniolli (Cardoba, Argentina) were both awarded two saves on the afternoon. Adrian Castillo (Alboraya, Spain) led the shooting for both teams, totaling four shots, two of which came on frame. Emmanuel Arkoh (Barcelona, Spain), Marc Vila (Vilassar de Mar, Spain) and Charles Bolduc (Quebec, Canada) also recorded shots for the Black and Gold.
Ending 0-0 after 90 minutes of regulation time and with neither team able to find the Golden Goal in two overtime periods, the game was forced to a penalty shootout. The game marks the seventh shutout of the season for Anderson, and for only the fourth time across 19 games, the Trojans were held scoreless.
Following the penalty shootout loss last game to Lenoir-Rhyne in the SAC Semifinals, Anderson was hungry to capitalize on this redemption opportunity.
LMU claimed the early advantage with a Railsplitter save followed by a player-make to boost them to 1-0. Julian Caro (Medellin, Colombia) was up second for the Trojans and buried his attempt. LMU's second kick-taker sent his high of the goal frame, leveling the score at 1-1 after four attempts.
The third round of kicks saw Vila send his kick to the back of the net and Antoniolli make a stop. Fourth for AU was Bolduc, who scored, along with Lincoln Memorial. Up 3-2 with one attempt left, Castillo stepped up for Anderson but gave too much power to his kick and sent the ball high. To tie the game after the best of five, the Railsplitters' fifth kicker's shot went wide right of the post. Anderson won the shootout 3-2.
AU advances to Round 2 of the NCAA Championships for only the second time in program history. They will face the reigning National Champions, Lynn, on Sunday afternoon.
