NCAA Tournament Round-Up
Friday, November 22, 2013
TAMPA, Fla. – Portland Timbers U-23s forward Reinaldo Brenes played a starring role as Akron defeated defending champion Indiana 3-2 in the opening round of the NCAA Men’s Division I Tournament on Thursday night. Brenes had a pair of goals, while Sounders FC U-23 midfielder Aodhan Quinn had the third, as the Zips advanced into the second round this weekend.
Akron appeared to have taken control against the Hoosiers as Brenes opened the scoring in the seventh minute, with Quinn following with a second midway through the half. Brenes added a third three minutes into the second half, but the Zips then had to withstand a strong comeback by the Hoosiers, who scored two goals in two minutes through the Des Moines Menace’s Dylan Lax and Chicago Fire U-23’s Jacob Bushue. Akron was able to hold on, however, and will face Marquette on Sunday.
PDL players highlighted much of the action on Thursday night, with the Chicago Fire U-23’s Chris Prince scoring the only goal as Wisconsin defeated Milwaukee 1-0. Prince’s goal came in the 13th minute, and set up a meeting with his PDL teammate Harrison Shipp and No. 3-seed Notre Dame.
Seattle sprang a surprise thanks to Sounders FC U-23 forward Miguel Gonzalez, who had both goals in the Redhawks 2-1 victory on the road against Creighton. Gonzalez scored the game-winner in the 72nd minute as his side rallied back from an early deficit to a Bluejays side that had advanced to the College Cup each of the past two seasons.
Louisville advanced into the second round as the Cardinals took victory in a penalty shootout against Denver after the two teams played to a 0-0 draw after regulation and extra time. Reading United’s Jimmy Ockford scored the deciding penalty kick in the fifth round as the Cardinals took a 3-2 win, while the Ventura County Fusion’s Nolan Moore and Portland Timbers U-23s’ Zack Foxhoven also scored from the spot.
Elon also advanced in a penalty shootout against Clemson, with GPS Portland Phoenix midfielder Caue da Silva and the Carolina Dynamo’s James Brace among those to convert from the spot for the Phoenix, while Ocean City Nor’easters goalkeeper Keasel Broome came up big for Providence as he made a pair of saves to send the Friars through in a shootout against Pennsylvania.
Austin Aztex goalkeeper Devin Cook helped Coastal Carolina advance into the second round as he recorded a four-save shutout in a 2-0 victory against East Tennessee State. The Chanticleers also got a goal from K-W United’s Sergio Camargo as they moved on to face Charlotte in the second round.
The Ocean City Nor’easters duo of goalkeeper Brian Billings and midfielder Scott Davis both helped Bradley advance to the second round with a 3-2 overtime win against Northwestern. Davis opened the scoring for the Brave, while Billings had four saves to knock off the Wildcats and set up a second-round contest with California.
Former Baltimore Bohemians defender Eli Dennis had the only goal as Penn State took a 1-0 victory against St. Francis (Brooklyn), while current Bohemian Julio Arjona was one of the George Mason players to score from the penalty spot as the Patriots defeated William & Mary in a shootout after a 2-2 draw.