Nov. 15, 2007

Box Score

DELAND, Fla. - The JU men's soccer team advanced to the A-Sun championship game that will be played on Saturday after defeating Lipscomb 3-2 in DeLand, Fla. in the second round of the A-Sun tournament.

Junior midfielder Phillip Meyner scored the game-winner for the Dolphins in the 80th minute after he headed found the back of the net after a shot from sophomore midfielder Riley Butler cannoned off the crossbar into Meyner's path.

"We came here to get to the final," said JU head coach Mike Johnson. "It wasn't always pretty tonight but we did what we needed to get a win. It was good to see the midfielders involved on the scoring. We are happy to be playing on Saturday and we look forward to playing our best game of the year."

The Dolphins took the lead though sophomore midfielder Stefan Runeman after a goal mouth scramble in the 17th minute and extended their lead in the 31st minute as a pin point pass from sophomore defender Eddie Munnelly allowed sophomore midfielder Jonathan Jackson to split the defense and fired home an unstoppable drive past Lipscomb goalkeeper Jake Goergen.

Late goals almost cost the Dolphins, as the Bisons scored in the last minute of both the first and second halves. Forward Ben Page scored his second penalty kick of the tournament with 20 seconds remaining in the first half and Miguel Da Silva scored a header with 37 seconds remaining in the game.

The Dolphins managed to hold on to their lead, thanks in part to the heroics of freshman goalkeeper Matt Gilman, who made four key saves in the victory.

The A-Sun championship game will be held on Saturday at 1 p.m. at the Stetson Soccer Complex. The Dolphins will face off against the winner of the Stetson and Campbell game that will be played on Thursday night.