Second seed Mount Aloysius College defeated top seed Penn State Behrend in the AMCC Men's Soccer Championship game as the Mounties picked up their second straight AMCC title.
The two teams remained deadlocked at 1 after the first 90 minutes to send the game into overtime. Neither team scored in the 20 minute overtime frame, so the game was decided by penalty kicks. 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 Mounties 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 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. Neither team could score for the remainder of regulation.
The Mounties had the best chance in overtime but the Mount'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.
Mount Aloysius earns the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA tournament. Tournament pairings will be announced on Monday at 1:30.
All-Tournament Team
Hilbert College: Jason Vullo, Carter Burke
Penn State Altoona: Owen Myers, Henry Couchara
Alfred State College: Ali Mata Ruiz, Will Bowen
Pitt-Greensburg: Robert Reed, Zander Plizga
Mount Aloysius College: Louis Bez, Juan Camacho, Luke Priestly
Penn State Behrend: Sean Abraham, Blake Cooper, Sam York