NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College men's soccer team advanced to the championship match of the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Men's Soccer Championship Tournament Tuesday night with a 3-2 win over visiting Grove City in the semifinal round at Harold Burry Stadium.
The No. 1-seeded Titans (15-5) advance to play No. 2 Washington & Jefferson (9-6-4) in the finals on Saturday at Westminster at a time that is to be determined. No. 4 Grove City (6-11-3) is now eliminated.
Westminster broke a scoreless tie in the 39th minute on a goal by freshman Coty Hainsey (New Paris, Pa./Chestnut Ridge). Hainsey scored from six yards by heading in a crossing pass from sophomore Jarred Smeltzer (Wilmerding, Pa./East Allegheny).
The Titans took a 2-0 halftime advantage after senior Garrett Horvath (Southlake, Texas/Southlake Carroll) converted a penalty kick in the 42nd minute.
Westminster led 3-0 after junior Brice Lott (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum) potted his seventh goal of the season on a breakaway set up by a long pass from junior Stephen Rossi (Oakmont, Pa./Central Catholic).
The Wolverines cut the deficit to one goal after Matt Sol deposited a penalty kick in the 56th minute and Grove City benefitted from an errant Westminster own goal in the 74th minute.
Westminster held a 21-14 shot advantage with sophomore goalkeeper Mike Codita (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) registering the win by making two saves and Sean Osbourne absorbing the loss with six saves.
About Westminster College...
Founded in 1852 and related to the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Westminster College is ranked 15th among liberal arts colleges, according to the Washington Monthly 2007 Annual College Guide. Westminster is a national leader in graduation rate performance, according to U.S. News Guide to America's Best Colleges, and is one of the most affordable national liberal arts colleges in Pennsylvania. Westminster is also honored as one of "The Best 368 Colleges" and "Best in the Northeast" by The Princeton Review, and was recognized by the Templeton Guide as a "Character Building College."
Nearly 1,600 undergraduate and graduate students benefit from individualized attention from dedicated faculty while choosing from 41 majors and nearly 100 organizations on the New Wilmington, Pa., campus.
