Box Score Box Score (PDF)

CARY, N.C. – The Wofford men’s soccer team advanced to the Southern Conference Men’s Soccer Championship final after defeating Appalachian State 4-2 on penalty kicks Thursday night.  The Terriers were led by senior goalkeeper Andrew Drennan who was able to save two penalties to help Wofford advance.
 
In the first half, Appalachian State dominated the play but was only able to generate three quality scoring chances.  First in the 13^th minute, Kojo Thompson sent a curving shot towards goal but Wofford goalkeeper Andrew Drennan was there to make the save.  The Mountaineers threatened again in the 20^th minute but Drennan saved Boubacar Toure’s attempt.  Appalachian State’s best chance came in the 32^nd minute but Stanley Broaden’s shot curved harmlessly wide.  The Mountaineers held the edge in shots (9-2) and corners (2-0) in the first half but the teams would head to the locker room tied 0-0.
 
Wofford would take the lead early in the second half on only their third shot of the game.  Dennis Moore won the ball and started a quick counter attack.  He found Ryan Hurst streaking down the left side, who was able to play the ball back across box to Alex Hutchins who slotted it into the net.  The goal was Hutchins 13^th of the season, and the assist was Hurst second in the SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship.  He also assisted on the game-winning goal against Furman.  However, the lead would not last long as Appalachian State equalized just two minutes later.  Walker White sent a cross to the back post from the right side that Boubacar Toure was able to head past Drennan into the top left corner of the net.  The goal was Toure’s second of the season. 
 
The Mountaineers nearly took the lead three times in the coming minutes.  First in the 70^th minute, Appalachian State fired three quick shots on goal after a corner kick but Forrest Lasso was there to block all three.  Next in the 74^th minute, Blair Gaines was there to clear the ball away from goal after a shot by Mason McCarter.  Then two minutes later, Josiah Trower found himself one-on-one with Drennan but the Wofford keeper was able to make the save.  Finally with under a minute left in regulation, Trower would get another one-on-one chance but Drennan was again able to make an excellent save to keep the game tied 1-1.  After 90 minutes Appalachian State still held the edge in shots (11-5) and corners (7-2) but that was not enough to separate the two teams and they would head to overtime tied 1-1.
 
In the first overtime, Toure had a break away but Drennan was able to charge and force Toure to play the ball out of bounds.  Wofford threatened in 98^th minute but Nestor Jaramillos’s free kick was saved at the far post by Mountaireer goalkeeper, Danny Free.  Neither team would threaten in the second overtime and the game would head to penalty kicks tied 1-1.
 
Alex Hutchins took the first penalty for Wofford but Free was able to make the save.  Kristian Lee-Kim would score to give Appalachian State a 1-0 edge.  Nestor Jaramillo would kick next for Wofford and scored after the ball deflected off Free’s hands.  However, Stanley Broaden would score easily to keep the Mountaineers ahead by one.  Connor Davis kick third for the Terriers and scored into the bottom left corner.  Andrew Drennan would get Wofford back in the game when he saved Lee Williams attempt to keep the score tied 2-2 after three kicks.  The Terriers would take the lead for the first time after Forrest Lasso found the back of the net despite another deflection by Free.  Ryan Lavigne walked to the spot to take Appalachian State’s fourth kick but Drennan was there to make another clutch save to hold onto Wofford’s 3-2 lead.  Ellis Viennne walked to the spot with a chance to win the game for Wofford and he would deliver a clutch penalty kick to send the Terriers into championship game.
 
Andrew Drennan finished the game with six saves all of which were crucial to keep Wofford in contention despite being outplayed by Appalachian State, but his two saves in the penalty shootout proved the difference.
 
Wofford will face Elon on Saturday, November 10, in the SoCon Men’s Soccer Championship in Cary, N.C.  The match is set to kick-off at 7:05 p.m.