Cobras Capture Men's Soccer Tournament Championship

HARTSVILLE, S.C. – The Coker Cobras are the Conference Carolinas Men's Soccer Tournament Champions! The nationally ranked No. 5 Cobras defeated the Bobcats of Lees-McRae 1-0 in the tournament final on Sunday afternoon. 

Noah Lascell (Myrtle Beach, S.C.) put home the game-winner with an assist from Niko Tirkkonen (Hollola, Finland) just a minute into the second half with a blast from just over the midfield line.

It was a tightly contested, physical game from start to finish with 32 total fouls called between both teams in the match. Coker held the advantage on shots 13-6 and both goalkeepers had four or more saves.

James Sweeney (Huntingtown, Md.) earned his 10^th shutout of the season with four saves for the Cobras, while Thomas Rusling had five saves in the net for the Bobcats.

Both Coker and Lees-McRae will now wait to see when and where they will play the NCAA regional tournament. The Cobras are currently ranked No. 1 in the NCAA Southeast Region poll, while the Bobcats are No. 6. The top six teams advance to the tournament that will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 9 with the opening round. The top two seeds will receive a bye until the first round starting Friday, Nov. 11.

Fans can watch the NCAA selection show live online on Monday, Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. on NCAA.com. 

Conference Carolinas All-Tournament Team

Tom McReady- Limestone College

Roberto De La Vina- Erskine College

James Smith- Lees-McRae College

Scott Hudgins- Lees-McRae College

Luke Duffy- Lees-McRae College

Alan Cuevas- Coker College

Brendan McCarron – Coker College

Niko Tirkkonen- Coker College

Tyler Staub- Coker College

MVP- Noah Lascell- Coker College

Tournament Champions- Coker College