FRANKLIN SPRINGS, Ga. (Nov. 7) – Behind two massive saves from senior goalkeeper
Michael Deleo, the No. 7 seeded University of Mount Olive men's soccer team secured a 4-2 victory in PKs following a 3-3 draw against No. 6 seed Emmanuel in the first round of the Conference Carolinas Tournament.
With the win, the Trojans stand a 4-6-5 overall and advance to the quarterfinals of the conference tournament to face divisional foe Francis Marion on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 4:30 p.m. Mount Olive secures its first postseason win and appearance in the quarterfinals since 2021. Meanwhile, the Lions finish their campaign with an 8-4-3 record.
In penalty kicks, the Trojans slotted home their initial two shots from junior
Joao Barboza Filho and senior
Christen Lugo-Elibox. Emmanuel also made its first pair of shots to tie it at 2-2 before Deleo delivered a stop into the bottom right corner of the net. Junior
Juan Gonzalez-Gancedo stretched the lead to 3-2 after converting before Deleo once again secured a save. Junior
Zachary Applewhite stepped up for the game-winner and buried the ball into the back of the net to secure a 4-2 win.
In the first half, both sides featured limited chances with just nine combined shots in the initial 45 minutes. Emmanuel held the lead at the break after netting the first goal in the 19th minute after a loose ball in the box off a corner kick was scored by Tomas Pollacchi, 1-0.
Emmanuel quickly stretched the lead to 2-0 at the 46:47 mark after a breakaway individual effort by Pollacchi, his second of the game. Mount Olive answered back in the 57th minute as senior
Rafael Obraczka scored from just outside the top of the box with an assist from sophomore
Manny Duran, 2-1. Approaching the final 10 minutes of the match, the Trojan tied it at 2-2 as senior
Guilherme Semola headed the ball over the line following a cross by junior
Colby Thompson. Just over two minutes later, the Lions reclaimed the advantage at 3-2 as Pollacchi recorded a hat trick. Mount Olive once again responded at the 85:59 mark with a goal from freshman
Nicolas Arze-Ynsua off a stellar cross off the end line from Semola sending the contest to overtime, 3-3. After limited action from both sides in a pair of 10-minute overtime periods, the match went to penalty kicks.
Deleo earned his first start of the season and collected five saves while playing all 110 minutes.
Emmanuel finished with a 22-11 shot advantage while boasting a 15-3 lead in corner kicks.
The Trojans will return to the pitch on Sunday, Nov. 10, to face No. 3 seed Francis Marion in the quarterfinals with kickoff set for 4:30 p.m.
