Delaware, Elon Advance to CAA Men’s Soccer Semifinals
Miles McQuiggan
Fourth-seeded Delaware outlasted Drexel in penalty kicks, while Elon – the sixth and final team into the CAA Championship field – scored the lone goal of its game against Stony Brook to advance to Sunday’s Semifinals.
(4) Delaware 2, (5) Drexel 2 (DEL, 4-2, PKs)
HEMPSTEAD, N.Y. (Nov. 2, 2023) – Delaware prevailed in penalty kicks to advance to the CAA Semifinals for the first time in seven years.
The first three shots on goal in the contest found the back of the net, beginning with a 1-2 punch from Delaware (9-3-6).
Carlos Fernandez made a run down the right side in the 13
th minute and drilled a shot off the crossbar that bounced down and in for the game’s first goal. Just 41 seconds later,
Sam Donnellan pounced on a misplay in front of the goal and poked the ball home for the 2-0 Delaware advantage.
Antonio Illuminato provided a response for Drexel (9-2-5) in the 23
rd minute, receiving a ball in the middle of the box and lifting it past the Delaware keeper to cut the Dragon deficit in half. Drexel pulled level in the 36
th minute, as a run down the middle by
Patrick Short ended with a quick strike to tie the match at 2-2.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard in the final 45 minutes of regulation despite a combined 17 shot attempts between the two sides – nine for Delaware and eight for Drexel.
After two scoreless overtime sessions, Delaware grabbed the advantage in the penalties thanks to a make from Donnellan and stop from
Adam Vik in the first round, before makes from
Orri Thorhallsson, Fernandez, and
TJ Hastings sealed the advancement for the Blue Hens.
Delaware was outshot, 22-16, in the contest, and received four saves over 110 minutes from Vik.
Alessandro Capogna made five stops for Drexel, including one in the final minute of regulation.
Delaware is on to the Semifinal round for the first time since 2016, when it won the league title. The Blue Hens defeated Hofstra, 2-1, in the teams’ regular season meeting in Newark in October.
(6) Elon 1, (3) Stony Brook 0
WEST LONG BRANCH, N.J. (Nov. 2, 2023) – A goal early in the second half proved to be the difference as sixth-seeded Elon upended third-seeded Stony Brook in New Jersey.
Elon (6-8-3) broke the deadlock in the 53
rd minute, as
Scott Vatne sent in a ball from the left side that
Victor Stromsten was able to get a touch on and direct past the keeper for the game’s first goal.
Edmond Kaiser put together a tremendous effort in goal for Stony Brook (6-6-5) with nine saves, while Elon’s
Tomasz Wroblewski turned aside all five shots he faced.
The Phoenix had to win its last three games of conference play to qualify for the CAA Championship and will enter Sunday’s Semifinal on a five-match unbeaten streak against CAA competition. Elon and Monmouth played to a 1-1 draw in the regular season at Rudd Field in early September.
Both of Sunday’s contests can be seen on FloFC.
CAA Men’s Soccer Championship
Thursday, Nov. 2 – Hempstead, N.Y.
No. 4 Delaware 2, No. 5 Drexel 2 (DEL, 4-2 in PKs)
Thursday, Nov. 2 – West Long Branch, N.J.
No. 6 Elon 1, No. 3 Stony Brook 0
Sunday, Nov. 5 – West Long Branch, N.J.
No. 6 Elon at No. 2 Monmouth – 1 p.m., FloFC
Sunday, Nov. 5 – Hempstead, N.Y.
No. 4 Delaware at No. 1 Hofstra – 2 p.m., FloFC
Saturday, Nov. 11 or Sunday, Nov. 12 – Highest Remaining Seed
Championship Final – Time TBD, FloFC
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