Box score
TAMPA, FLA. -- Senior Florida native, Sean Paradise, had five
saves, including a penalty kick in regulation and a save in the
shootout, to take the Lees-McRae College Bobcats to the NCAA
Division II Men's Soccer National Championship with a shootout win
over the Lewis University Flyers Thursday afternoon.
Paradise came up big for the big for the Bobcats at the end of
the first half when Lewis' Acxer Eduardo attempted a near post
shot, but Paradise turned it away to keep the game scoreless at the
half.
In the second half in the 58th minute, a Bobcat hand ball gave
the Flyers a penalty kick, but Paradise made a diving save to his
right on Robert McGowan's attempt to keep the game scoreless. The
penalty kick saved turned out to be the second biggest save of
Paradise's career as a Bobcat - his biggest save was yet to
come.
In the 79th minute, Nestor Hernandez collected a punt and scored
to put the Flyers up 1-0, and one minute later, Hernandez received
a pass from Charlie Bucio and buried his second goal of the game to
give the Flyers a 2-0 lead.
But the Bobcats didn't give up and rallied in the 85th minute
when Grant Elder, who came off the five minutes before, took a pass
from Sam Kennedy and beat the Flyers' keeper high to the far post
to cut the lead to 2-1.
Two minutes later, Lee Squires, a two-time All-American who
missed all but seven matches, buried the game tying goal. Squires
found himself on the back post one-on-one after a Jamie Bladen shot
was blocked by a Flyer defender.
In the overtime periods neither team was able to end the match
on a golden goal forcing a shootout.
The Bobcats went first in the shootout and Richard Guffens
buried his attempt, and Paradise made the save on McGowan's attempt
for Lewis' first attempt for the biggest save in his four year
career for the Bobcats.
"It was the same guy that attempted the penalty kick on me in
regulation," Paradise said. "I knew he wouldn't try to go the same
way on me, and I saw him open his hips and go to his left my
right."
David Palmer buried his attempt and was followed by Squires,
Berin Boracic and Jamie Bladen how sealed the win on his attempt
that he tucked in the left corner. Bladen's game-winning goal
lifted the Bobcats to the Final Four in the team's 1-0 win over
Tampa.
Lees-McRae outshot Lewis, 19-11, and held a 9-8 corner kick
advantage.
Paradise's five saves earned his 15th win of the season. Going
back to last season he has saved seven of the last 15 penalty kicks
against him.
For a school of 670 students, one of the smallest in the NCAA
Division II, the Bobcats have put themselves in the title game.
One-hundred plus people packed into Williams Gymnasium in Banner
Elk on the campus to watch the game.
The Bobcats will face Fort Lewis Saturday afternoon at 4 p.m. at
Pepin Field in Tampa and will be aired on CBS College Sports
tomorrow at 4 p.m.! This is the first time in the history of the
school in NCAA competition a team has competed for a national
title!
Highlights
