NCAA BRACKET
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – SMU evened the score twice, forcing extra time at No. 1 Virginia, but the Cavaliers converted on the golden goal in the 95
th minute to escape the Mustangs in the quarterfinals of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship.
The No. 8 seed Mustangs, the 2019 American Athletic Conference champions, close the season at 18-2-1 overall and ranked No. 5 in the United Soccer Coaches poll. SMU is the just the second team to score two goals on Virginia this season.
Gabriel Costa led SMU with a goal, a penalty kick in the 71
st minute, and an assist. Henrik Bredeli netted the tying score in the 84
th minute, while starting goalkeeper Grant Makela made three saves.
Virginia got on the board early, when Axel Gunnarsson put the cross from Daryl Dike past Makela. The score held through the break, until a foul in the box put Costa at the dot for the penalty kick tally in the 71
st minute.
The Cavaliers responded quickly, earning their own penalty kick goal in the 78
th minute from Joe Bell on a shot that just escaped the outstretched arms of Makela.
Six minutes later, Bredeli posted the highlight of the game. Costa chipped a looping ball from 25 yards out, and Bredeli connected, sending an eight-yard header into the net at the far post.
In extra time, SMU keeper Patrick Michael Hillyard made the initial save on another Bell penalty kick, but wasn’t able to handle the rebound. Bell raced forward to tap in his own rebound for the game winner.
The Mustangs captured their third-straight conference championship in November, defeating top-seeded UCF 1-0. SMU entered Friday with eight-straight wins and both NCAA victories coming in extra time. One of the nation’s most storied NCAA programs, SMU advanced to the quarterfinals for the 13
th time in program history.
2019 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship
Sunday, Nov. 24 – Second Round
No. 8 SMU 1, Coastal Carolina 0 (2OT)
Saturday, Nov. 30 – Third Round
No. 8 SMU 2, No. 9 UCF 1 (OT)
Friday, Dec. 6 – Quarterfinals
No. 1 Virginia 3, No. 8 SMU 2 (OT)