Courtesy of John Leisering
ERIE, Pa. - It was only fitting that the top two teams in the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference (AMCC) would need extra time to decide the 2022 men's soccer championship. Even 110 minutes, however, weren't enough. Penn State Behrend, the #1 seed, and #2 Mt. Aloysius needed penalty kicks to determine who would move on to the big dance. In the end, the Mounties defended their 2021 title edging the Lions on penalty kicks, 5 to 4. Although the contest is officially recorded as a tie, the Mounties advance on PKs. The game was played under partly sunny skies with a temperature in the mid-to-upper 70s. The Mounties, with a 20-mph wind at their backs, scored the lone first half marker when sophomore Louis Bez converted a slip pass in the box from senior Tevin Beadle at 21:55. The goal was the first allowed by Behrend since Bez scored early in the second half against the Lions in a 1-1 tie at Cresson, Pa. on October 1 - a span of nine-plus games and more than 980 minutes.The opponent goal also marked the first time the Lions had trailed since a 1-0 home loss to John Carroll on September 28. Bez's goal was his sixth of the season and Beadle's assist was his team-leading 24th point. The Lions outshot Mt. Aloysius 7-3 in the first half and led 3-2 in corners. Behrend got even at 64:06 when sophomore Blake Cooper (Murrysville, PA/Franklin Regional) dribbled into the box and snuck one in the near corner. The goal, Cooper's team-leading tenth of the year, came after consistent Behrend pressure. The Mounties had a chance to regain the lead later in the half, but sophomore Ryan Peddle's effort from twelve yards out on the left side was turned aside by Lions' senior GK Sam York (Akron, OH/Revere). Neither team could score for the remainder of regulation although the Lions had a wide advantage in shots in the half, 17-3.
The Mounties had the best chance in overtime but Beadle's shot from in close with three minutes left in the second extra session was stopped by York and eventually cleared. Behrend outdistanced Mt. Aloysius 28-7 in shots for the 110 minutes of play.
Noteworthy:
* Behrend entered play with nine straight wins, all shutouts (38-0)
* Mt. Aloysius came in on a seven-game streak (35-4)
* The Mounties won the 2021 AMCC title with a 2-1 victory over Medaille after eliminating the Lions 2-1 in the semifinals
* Mt. Aloysius has now won the AMCC crown three times, the last two in succession
* Behrend scored first in 1-1 stalemate at Mt. Aloysius on 10-1-22
* The Mounties returned the favor today
* Behrend's Sean Abraham (Oakmont, PA/Riverview), Cooper and York made the All-Tournament team.
* Mt. Aloysius ended play today with a 6-5 road record
* The Lions finished 7-3-2 at home
* Behrend still leads the all-time series 18-3-2
Next Up:
* The NCAA will determine the 2022 playoff participants Monday at 1:30
