Semifinal-Bound! Historic Win Sets Up Rematch At OCC

BLUE BELL, Pa. - Montgomery's men's soccer team advanced to the Region XIX semifinals for the first time in the program's history with a 4-1 win over the Hawks of Harrisburg Area Community College on Saturday.

Freshman Igor McVeagh scored two goals and added an assist for the fifth-seeded Mustangs, who will face the fourth-seeded Vikings of Ocean County College in a 2:30 pm match at OCC on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

(NOTE: Due to the forecasted weather for Wednesday, the semifinal match has been postponed and rescheduled for Thursday, Oct. 29 at 2:30 pm).

The Vikings posted a 4-0 shutout win over the Mustangs in Montgomery's regular season home finale on Oct. 17. The stakes will be much higher this time as the teams will be battling for a spot in one of two Region XIX Division III Tournament Final matches.

"Great effort today," said Head Coach Tom Haney. "We are excited to move into the regional semifinals with another shot at Ocean."

Haney's team took nothing for granted in its match with the Hawks, a team that had played the Mustangs tough in two regular season meetings.

Montgomery controlled the game with good ball movement throughout. But after 30 minutes the game remained scoreless. The Mustangs finally broke through in the 31st minute as their relentless pressure in the attacking third of the pitch finally paid off. Ed Lohmeyer rocketed a shot off the left corner goal post that McVeagh found and finished with a shot of his own into the left upper portion of the net.

The Mustangs held the 1-0 lead for the remainder of the first half and the early minutes of the second half. Again, the pressure-based attack resulted in McVeagh finishing off a great through ball from Ariel Gaviria for a 2-0 lead.

Later, Lohmeyer's hard work set the stage for another goal. Lohmeyer took the ball down the right side and beat the defender along the touchline sending a great ball to Mawulome Logoh, who was running to the far left post and buried the shot for a commanding 3-0 lead with 20 minutes left in the match.

Dante Pronsati provided the exclamation mark on the victory with less than 10 minutes remaining, as he came in from the right side and received a great ball from McVeagh and struck gold from 15 yards out.

Mustangs' midfielder Jaron Kicinski received a yellow card in the match for unsportsmanlike conduct.

- By Bob Kent, Sports Information Director