Coker Advances to Tournament Championship with 2-1 Win over Limestone

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – Junior Noah Lascell (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) blasted home the Cobras game-winning goal in the 72^nd minute of play to break a 1-1 tie and give Coker a 2-1 win over Limestone College in the semifinals of the Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament.

The win advances nationally ranked No. 5 Cobras to their third tournament championship game in as many years. 

After a scoreless first half of play, Limestone got on the board first with an unassisted goal from Bryce Ziada. Behind 1-0 the Cobras found themselves in unfamiliar territory, playing from behind.

The Cobras quickly stepped up to the challenge with a goal eight minutes later from Niko Tirkkonen (Hollola, Finland) with an assist from Carlos Recinos (Houston, Texas) tying the game at a goal apiece. 

Then in the 72^nd minute Lascell sent a laser beam of shot past the Saint's Kyle Karagitz off a pass from Jordan Snell (Palm Bay, Fla.) putting Coker on top and setting up the eventual victory.

James Sweeney (Huntingtown, Md.) persevered the win in the net with a pair of saves, while Karagitz had one save on the night. 

Coker, the top seed in the tournament, improves to 17-2 overall with the win and moves on to host the winner of  the #2 seed Lees-McRae and the #6 seed Erskine game.

The championship game will be held at Coker on Sunday, Nov. 6 at 1 p.m. 

McDonald's Player of the Game- Noah Lascell

Lascell scored the Cobras game-winning goal

The McDonald's Player of the Game is presented by the Hartsville McDonald's and is given to the most outstanding performer during each Coker College home athletic event.