Gorloks Complete Title Sweep
The Webster University men's soccer team completed the title sweep in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference, winning both the regular season and tournament titles. The top-seeded Gorloks jumped out to a 2-0 lead over #2 Spalding University with a pair of skilled quick strikes.
The Gorlok forward duo of Mark Moore and Aahman Murvin worked together for the game's first goal. Moore dropped the ball to Murvin who promptly flipped the ball over two Golden Eagle defenders and found the foot of the swift-moving Moore who had quickly snuck behind the defense. Moore one-touched the ball into the far right side of the net, putting Webster up 1-0 at the 26:12 mark.
The Gorloks struck again just six minutes later. Probing the midfield for a soft spot Webster Murvin finally shook a pair of Golden Eagle defenders and played the ball to Justin Kohler. Kohler maneuvered his way past a defender and slipped the ball out wide where Nick Thomas streaked down the left side of the box and pushed the ball on the far side, past the Spalding keeper.
"Jumping out to a 2-0 lead was obviously so important today when you are playing a team like Spalding that has that many dangerous players," said Webster University head coach Mike Siener. "I give credit to all of our guys that got in today and helped the team with some valuable minutes. We were definitely tired and credit Spalding for making that strong push."
Spalding, playing in its third championship game in six seasons, showed its experience and why they were in the season's title game. After managing just four shots in the first half the Golden Eagles made their push in the next 45 minutes; getting off six shots. The first of those shots was off the foot of Ahmadou Gueye for a goal, cutting the Webster lead in half. Just 2:02 into the second-half Gueye received a long entry pass into the box from Jacob Bass, then split a pair of defenders and let go a quick shot into the back of the net.
Spalding was again working the left side of the field when they quickly flipped the field to the left with two midfield passes. A cross from Ethan Eckert found the foot of Gueye to draw the score at 2-2 with 10-minutes left in regulation. The two teams played it even for the remainder of the game and saw limited opportunities in the overtime periods.
With the score even after both overtime frames, the SLIAC Men's Soccer Championship would be decided by penalty kicks for just the 4th time in conference history and the first time since 2010.
Spalding addressed the ball first for penalty kicks with Gorlok keeper Matt Coffey coming up with two big saves on the Golden Eagles' first two attempts. Trevor Massa was Spalding's selection in the net, coming off the bench. After Webster knocked its first two attempts through, Massa drew the score even at 2-2 with the Golden Eagles notching successful attempts from Chadrack Mulondani and Ethan Eckert.
Carlos Llamas put his attempt through to give Webster a 3-2 lead but Spalding answered right back with the foot of Caleb Jackson. That meant that Webster could win it on the 5th attempt, and that was just what Noah Abraham did, putting the ball right down the middle for a 4-3 Webster edge in penalty kicks.
"It's definitely different for players and most of them don't have to face that pressure by themselves during games having to make that penalty. Matt Coffey was great again in the net and he has always been really strong in that area. Credit him as well for two big saves," said Siener.
The 2021 SLIAC Men's Soccer Championship is the 6th in program history for Webster University, a new conference high, and its second straight title. They are the first repeat Tournament Champion since Westminster College won five in a row from 2013-17.
The Gorloks claim the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship, with the tournament pairings being announced on Monday, November 8th.
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