NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. - The Westminster College men's soccer team won its third Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship in team history and its second in the last three years with a 2-1 win in double overtime against Washington & Jefferson at Harold Burry Stadium Saturday night in the final match of the PAC tournament.
The No. 1-seeded Titans (16-5) came back from a 1-0 deficit against the No. 2 Presidents (9-7-4) with goals in the 80th minute of regulation and the 101st minute of the second overtime.
Westminster also earns an automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Tournament and will go to the big dance for the third time in team history. The Titans previously won PAC titles in 2002 and 2006 and made NCAA tournament trips in 2002 and 2004. Westminster's 16 wins ties the 2004 and 2002 teams for the most wins in program history.
The game-winning goal was scored by junior Ian Hill (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Catholic) just 1:16 into the second overtime off a rebound from classmate Brice Lott (Pittsburgh, Pa./Plum).
Westminster sent the game to overtime when senior Garrett Horvath (Southlake, Texas/Southlake Carroll) tied the game in the 80th minute with a goal from 20 yards out.
Washington & Jefferson scored first when Nick Bradnam pocketed a 30-yard kick from the right side over the outstretched arm of Westminster goalkeeper Mike Codita (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley).
Codita made seven saves as did W&J net-minder Tyler Hodgins. The Titans held a 27-12 shot advantage.
The NCAA tournament pairings will be announced Monday with a likely Thursday first round game.
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.
