HobbsDailyReport.com
ROCK HILL, S.C. – Anderson (S.C.) beat Lenoir-Rhyne University 2-1 on Friday in the South Atlantic Conference (SAC) men’s soccer semifinals, downing the Bears for the second time this season.
Fourth-seeded Anderson (10-4-3) derailed the top-seeded Bears (11-6) — who must now await Monday’s pairings for the NCAA Division II playoffs — at Manchester Meadows.
The Trojans meet third-seeded Tusculum (11-6-1) on Sunday at 4 p.m. at Manchester Meadows for the SAC championship.
Tusculum advanced on Friday with a 2-0 victory over No. 7 seed Carson-Newman.
LRU had an early 1-0 lead on Friday after senior Cameron Saul second in the second minute.
Anderson tied it at 1 in the 12th minute on a goal by Cameron Emerson.
The game-winning goal came in the 69th minute by Anderson’s Harry Ward.
LRU outshot Anderson 16-10 and had an 8-7 edge in shots on goal, and the Bears led in corner kicks 7-2.
Alex Langer had five saves for LRU and Anderson’s Gal Elyashiv had seven saves.
Anderson beat LRU on Oct. 27, winning 2-1.
SAC MEN’S SOCCER TOURNAMENT
First round at higher seeds
Tuesday’s results
Match 1: No. 1 LENOIR-RHYNE 2, No. 8 Coker 0
Match 2: No. 4 Anderson, S.C. 2, No. 5 Lincoln Memorial 1
Match 3: No. 7 Carson-Newman 2, No. 2 Queens 1
Match 4: No. 3 Tusculum 3, No. 6 Wingate 1
Friday’s semifinal results at Rock Hill, S.C.
Match 5: No. 4 Anderson, S.C. 2, No. 1 LENOIR-RHYNE 1
Match 6: No. 3 Tusculum 2, No. 7 Carson-Newman 0
Sunday’s championship at Rock Hill, S.C.
Match 7, championship: No. 4 Anderson, S.C. (10-4-3) vs. No. 3 Tusculum (11-6-1), 4 p.m.