BOX SCORE
PENSACOLA, Fla. – Behind
Kameron Bethell's pair of assists and a stingy backline, the No. 3-seeded University of West Florida men's soccer team passed through the No. 6 seed Alabama Huntsville 2-1 in the first round of the Gulf South Conference tournament.
The team's remained scoreless after the first 45 minutes, and UAH held a 7-6 advantage in shots.
Phil D'Amico recorded five saves in the first half, and finished the match with seven.
UWF (9-5-2) broke through on the scoreboard in the 59
th minute, when
Chandler Castleman netted his team-leading seventh goal of the season. Castleman was able to record the tally off a Bethell corner kick, and when UAH goalkeeper Gabriel Chilas was unable to clear the ball, Castleman headed it in by squeaking one right by the near post.
Castleman's seventh goal of the season is the most for any UWF player in a single season since
Felipe Oliveira notched 10 goals as a sophomore in 2013.
Freshman
Isaiah Lopez put away what eventual was the game-deciding blow in the 65
th minute, after
Alik Morgan connected with Bethell on pass, who in return was able to cross it to an open Lopez. Both Morgan and Bethell recorded assists on the play, as Morgan recorded his third of the year, and Bethell notched his GSC-leading eighth assist of the season and his second of the match.
The Chargers (6-10-1) put some fright into the Argonauts with just over two and a half minutes remaining, scoring off a corner kick to make cut UWF's lead in half in the 88
th minute. The Argonaut backline was able to fend off any last-second attacks and did not allow a Charger shot for the remainder of the match.
UWF outshot UAH 16-12 for the match, including a 10-5 advantage in the second half, while corner kick opportunities were even at 6-6.
UWF advances to the GSC Tournament Semifinals for the 10
th time in the last 11 years, and will head to Clinton, Mississippi for its next match against No. 2 seed Shorter. West Florida and Shorter face off at 11:30 on Friday morning, and Mississippi College, the tournament's top seed and host, will play two-time defending GSC Tournament champions West Alabama in the other semifinal at 2:00 p.m. on Friday.
For information on all UWF athletics, visit GoArgos.com.
