November 5, 2005
WOLVERINES WIN FIRST OUTRIGHT PAC TITLE!
WASHINGTON, Pa. -- The Grove City College men's soccer team captured its first-ever outright Presidents' Athletic Conference championship Saturday with a 2-1 victory over top-seeded Washington and Jefferson in the PAC Championship Tournament final at Alexandre Stadium.
It is Grove City's first PAC title since a co-championship in 1996 and the program's first outright conference title since joining the PAC in 1984.
Junior forward Bob McNees (Beaver Falls, Pa./Blackhawk) scored on a pair of penalty kicks in the win for Grove City. His penalty kick at 49:22 gave Grove City a 1-0 lead. Washington and Jefferson's Stephen Fant tied the match, 1-1, at 55:15. The match remained tied until the final moments.
At 88:30, the Wolverines were awarded their second penalty kick opportunity when Wash. and Jeff. brought Eli Lamborn (Hollidaysburg, Pa./Hollidaysburg) down in the box. McNees then converted the penalty kick, putting Grove City ahead to stay. It is McNees' 18th goal of the season and the 45th of his career.
In goal, sophomore Michael Manahan (State College, Pa./State College) stopped six shots for Grove City (12-5-4). Washington and Jefferson out-shot Grove City, 14-7.
Grove City will now await a possible postseason berth. The NCAA Division III Championship Tournament bids will be awarded Sunday night while the Eastern College Athletic Conference Southern Championship Tournament berths will be awarded Monday.