NCAA BRACKET
 
PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Eddie Munjoma scored the golden goal just 18 seconds into overtime, lifting No. 8 SMU to the 2-1 victory over No. 9 UCF in the third round of the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship on Saturday night. The Mustangs advance to the quarterfinals, where they will meet No. 1 Virginia in Charlottesville, Va.
 
SMU (18-1-1) made the most of a UCF miscue off the overtime starting whistle, when Nicky Hernandez recovered a loose ball in the midfield. Noah Hilt then threaded a well-placed pass behind the defense to Munjoma, who sent the ball to the open far post.
 
The Mustangs are winners of eight-straight – including four in overtime – matching Virginia (19-1-1) for the longest win streak among teams to reach the postseason in Division I. Next weekend’s matchup with the Cavaliers will be SMU’s first NCAA quarterfinal appearance since 2010.
 
Munjoma netted the game-winning goal against UCF for the second time in a month, as Saturday’s NCAA contest marked the third time the two programs met on the season. SMU previously defeated the Knights 1-0 in the American Athletic Conference Championship match, while the two sides battled to a 3-3 tie during the regular season.
 
Grant Makela made five saves in net for SMU, rising to 12-1-1 on the season. Yannik Oettl turned aside three shots for the Knights, including a point-blank stop in the 61^st minute to keep the score even. UCF held a narrow 20-18 shot advantage, with six on goal to the Mustangs’ five.
 
UCF struck first in the 25^th minute on a tap-in by Cal Jennings. Glademir Mendoza and Hattabiou Barry worked the ball down the far side, and Mendoza was able to draw out Makela and the SMU defense at the six-yard box. He found Jennings cutting behind, with a wide-open goal for the score.
 
Jennings, the two-time American Athletic Conference Offensive Player of the Year, closes his UCF career with 108 points and 46 goals, tying for the American Athletic Conference career record in the latter category.
 
It took just 10 minutes for SMU to equalize, after Knut Ahlander was taken down in the box in a Mustang counter. Gabriel Costa converted the penalty kick for his eighth goal of the season.
 
UCF (15-3-2) closes the season ranked No. 8 in both national polls after earning the outright American Athletic Conference regular season title. The Knights advanced to the third round of the NCAA Championship for the first time in program history and boasted a 6-1-2 record in overtime games this season.
 
For full coverage leading into next weekend’s match, follow @American_MSOC on Twitter and stay tuned to theamerican.org.
 
 
2019 NCAA Men’s Soccer Championship
 
Sunday, Nov. 24 – Second Round
No. 9 UCF 2, Missouri State 1 (OT)
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
Charlottesville, Va. – Time TBA
No. 8 SMU at No. 1 Virginia