HICKORY, N.C. – The Coker College men's soccer team advanced to the semifinals of the South Atlantic Conference Championship Tournament after knocking off the No. 3 seed Lenoir-Rhyne University Bears on Tuesday night (Nov. 1). Both sides were deadlocked at 1-1 after 110 minutes, however the Cobras prevailed 7-6 in the penalty kick shootout to pick up the quarterfinal win.
Aladdin Elfares struck first for the Navy and Gold, connecting on a header and finding the back of the net in the 13th minute to give Coker a 1-0 lead. Lenoir-Rhyne would respond in the 24th minute to tie the match up at 1-1. The scoreboard would remained untouched over the next 86 minutes, as neither team could connect in the second half, first overtime or second overtime, forcing the match to go to penalty kicks.
Neither side blinked in the five-round shootout, as Coker's Alvaro Urena, Elfares, Christian Amtoft, Mads Aagurd and Connor Norton-Baker all made their penalty kicks, forcing extra PKs.
Tied at 5-5, Devi Ndrita of Lenoir-Rhyne scored to give the Bears the 6-5 advantage. In a must make situation, senior David Arensdorf stepped up and tied the shootout up at 6-6 with a make.
After 12 consecutive made penalty kicks, the Bears were the first to stumble with a miss, giving Coker's Jarrian Cutrer a chance to clinch the win. Cutrer's attempt missed just high and the two sides remained tied at 6-6.
Lenoir-Rhyne missed its second-straight PK, giving Coker second chance to clinch a spot in the SAC semifinals. Sophomore Jaedon Williamson received the nod and buried his shot, giving the Cobras the 7-6 win in the penalty kick shootout.
Elfares led the way, with the lone Coker goal in regulation. Amtoft and Norton-Baker each registered three shots on goal, while Urena recorded one shot on goal. In goal, Justin Walker finished with seven saves.
The Cobras will face the winner of Tusculum vs. Mars Hill on Friday (Nov. 4) at 7:30 p.m. The semifinal matchup will be played at Manchester Meadows in Rock Hill, S.C.