#6 Tartans Advance in NCAA Championship, Defeat Morrisville State 3-0

(PITTSBURGH, Pa.) - The Carnegie Mellon University men's soccer team broke through in the second period for three goals to defeat Morrisville State College 3-0 in the first round of the 2012 NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship on its home field in Pittsburgh, Pa. The #6 Tartans advance to the second round with a record of 13-3-1.

The first period was one of frustration for both teams as the Tartans were wide of the net on eight shot attempts while putting two on frame and the Mustangs had both of their shot attempts stopped by keeper Christopher Madden (Reisterstown, Md./Calvert Hall).

The Mustangs looked to be in position to score the first goal of the game around the 15th minute when Chernor Barrie had a break-away. Tartan senior defender Alex Abedian (Columbus, Ind./Columbus North) ran him down and deflected the ball before Barrie could get the shot off inside the 18-yard box.

Two minutes into the second half, junior Scott Gerfen (Bethesda, Md./Walt Whitman) got behind the defense and around Morrisville State keeper Rob Larkin to play a pass back into the box from the goalline. Junior Chris Wysocki (Newtown, Pa./Germantown Academy) was there to finish the play into the open net to break the stalemate and give the Tartans a one-goal advantage.

Not even three minutes later the Tartans added to the scoreline with a goal by senior John Crawshaw (Carnegie, Pa./Carlynton). Junior Mike Ferraco (Penn Hills, Pa./Penn Hills) played a cross from the left sideline to the far post where Crawshaw met it with a one-time shot for his fourth goal of the season.

In the 61st minute, Wysocki nearly finished again but his header attempt was saved by Larkin and his rebounded attempt was cleared off the line by Morrisville defender Brian Culkin.

The Tartans were in the offensive third again in the 71st minute when freshman Connor Webb (Dallas, Texas/J.J. Pearce) layed off a square pass for sophomore Brandon Peck (Pittsburgh, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) who turned and struck a right-footed shot to the far post for his first goal of the year.

Madden and sophomore Jacob Rice (Gahanna, Ohio/Gahanna Lincoln) combined for the shutout in goal for the Tartans as Madden earned his 12th victory of the season. Rice made two saves in the final eight minutes for the home team.

The Tartans advance to the second round to face the winner of #10 Ohio Northern University and Thomas More College at 5:00 p.m. at home in Pittsburgh on Sunday, November 11.