Charlotte 49ers Advance to Men’s Soccer Finals
December 9, 2011
Unseeded Charlotte 49ers beat second-seeded Creighton 4-1 in penalty kicks Friday night to advance to the NCAA men’s soccer final for the first time.
The 49ers (17-4-3) and Bluejays (21-3) failed to score in regulation and both of the 10-minute overtime sessions. But Charlotte converted each of its four penalty kicks, compared to one for Creighton.
Charlotte has been on what some are calling a fairytale run throughout the College Cup playoffs, but their coach disagrees.
“This isn’t a Cinderella team,” Charlotte coach Jeremy Gunn said after the 49ers ousted second-ranked Creighton from the College Cup Friday night. “We’ve got a resolve and we’ve scored more goals than anyone in this tournament.”
After 90 scoreless minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime without a goal, unseeded Charlotte won the penalty kick 4-1, with defender Isaac Cowles delivering the game winner when he pounded the ball past Hermann Trophy semifinalist Brian Holt.
Charlotte will face top-seeded North Carolina (21-2-2) in the final at 4pm on Sunday in Hoover, Alabama. The 49ers will be playing for a national title in any sport for the first time.
Sunday’s title game will be televised on ESPN2 & online on ESPN3.com. 4pm EST.
Charlotte 49ers Soccer Website
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