PENN ST. BEHREND LOOKING TO DEFEND AMCC MEN'S SOCCER CHAMPIONSHIP

Top seeded Penn St. Behrend looks to successfully defend their 2013 AMCC championship by entering the 2014 tournament with a perfect 9-0 conference record.  The Lions are led by two-time AMCC Offensive Player of the Week and ECAC South Player of the Week (October 20), Jimmy Belack.   Belack, the all-time career assist leader at Behrend, is tops in the AMCC and ninth in the nation in total goals scored with 17 and also leads the conference in total points with 44.

The Lions’ strong offense is matched by a stifling Medaille defense and strong goalkeeper in Erik Szczerba, who leads the AMCC in save percentage (.837), goals against (7), and goals against average (.50).  Medaille enters the tournament as the #2 seed with an 8-1 conference record, their only loss being to the Lions, 3-0 on October 14.

Between them, Behrend and Medaille have won the past nine titles, with the Lions taking three and the Mavericks with six.  The two programs are tied with six total championships apiece.

Pitt-Greensburg (6-2-1), the third seed, are led by Jeremy Niemiec who ranks fifth in the AMCC in scoring with 10 goals and is second in assists with 10. The Bobcats won league championships in 2002 and 2004.

#4 La Roche enters the tournament with a 5-3-1 conference record and are looking for their first ever AMCC title.  The Redhawks are led by freshman goalkeeper Spencer Wolfe. The two-time AMCC Defensive Player of the Week ranks second in the AMCC in save percentage (.812) and third in saves (82), goals against (19), and goals against average (1.09).

For the second straight year, Mount Aloysius has earned a playoff berth.  The Mounties are the fifth seed with a 3-5-1 AMCC record.  Kevin Ouellette leads the Mounties in scoring, and is ninth in the conference, with eight goals on the season.

After not winning a conference game in over a year, the D’Youville Spartans (3-5-1) are making their debut appearance in the tournament.  The Spartans are led by junior goalkeeper and two-time AMCC Defensive Player of the Week Brett Matthews, who ranks second in the conference with 88 saves.

Penn St. Behrend and Medaille will receive first-round byes. The first round games will take place on Saturday, November 1, with the semifinals will being played on Wednesday, November 5, and the AMCC championship game taking place on Saturday, November 8.  The tournament winner will receive the conference’s automatic bid to the NCAA Division III tournament.

First Round – Saturday, November 1
#6 D’Youville at #3 Pitt-Greensburg, 2p
#5 Mt. Aloysius at #4 La Roche, 2p

Semifinal Round – Wednesday, November 5
#1 Penn St. Behrend vs. winner 4v5
#2 Medaille vs. winner 3v6

Championship – Saturday, November 8
at highest remaining seed