BOX SCORE

Newport News, VA (November 13, 2011) – The DeSales University men's soccer team had its chances, missing a PK and having a ball cleared off the line late in the second half as its comeback fell just short, falling 3-2 to Randolph College in the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament.

The Bulldogs (15-5-2) end their season with 15 wins for the second straight year and reach the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time in program history.  Randolph (18-5) moves into the Sweet 16 where it will face University of Texas-Tyler at a site to be announced.

The game got off to a quick start with three goals thru the first 3:32.  RC struck first at 1:35 as Nick Cornell scored off a free kick from about 40 yards out, but the Bulldogs had the answer just 16 seconds later when sophomore Josh Himes split two defenders after a pass from junior Steve Krause at the top of the box.

Just under two minutes later though Randolph regained a one-goal lead when Cornell scored again off a rebound of a saved shot.  RC took a two-goal lead in the 28th minute when Jacob Lusczek sent a cross in from the right side and Corey Sindle was there to knock it home uncontested.

DSU had some golden opportunities to get within a goal over the final 15 minutes of the half but a few point blank shots were either hit wide or right into the keeper's hands and a PK by senior Jonathan Balfour caromed off the left upper 90 and out to the right where it was cleared by the RC defense as the game went to the half with Randolph clinging to a two-goal lead.

The second half saw DeSales storm the RC defensive zone almost the entire half.  The Bulldogs finally broke thru in the 64th minute when senior Derek Long fired a point blank shot into the RC keeper that bounced right back to Long who headed it over the top of the GK's head and into the net.  The goal was Long's 45th of his career and his 101st career point making him the fourth player in school history to record 100+ career points.

Just minutes later DSU looked to have tied the game at three.  Balfour hustled to a ball thru the RC defense and hit a sliding shot just under the charging keeper that was destined for the net, until out of nowhere a Wildcat defender came sliding in to clear the ball of the line despite everyone on DSU's bench claiming the ball had already cleared the line for a goal.

Despite the near miss, DeSales kept pressuring the Wildcat defense, forcing several long throws and corner kicks but were just never able to break thru for the third tally as RC's Carter Smith finished with 11 saves to preserve the win.

For the game, DSU out-shot Randolph, 17-11, and a 14-6 advantage in shots on goal.  Freshman Colin Sulpizio and sophomore Mike Thompson combined to make three saves in the loss.