Top Four Seeds Advance to Heart Semifinals, Presented by 516 Sports Capital
KANSAS CITY, Kan. – In the quarterfinal round of the Heart of America Men's Soccer Conference Tournament, the top four seeds came away with wins and advanced to the semifinals on Friday, Nov. 7.
#1 Baker Defeats #8 William Woods, 2-1 - BOX SCORE
Both teams were scoreless for the entire first 45 minutes but just 33 seconds into the second half, William Woods broke the scoreless tie as Francesco Dibra found the back of the net to give the Owls a 1-0 lead.
A little under 14 minutes later, Heart of America Player of the Year Chafik El Idrissi was taken down inside the box, giving Baker a penalty kick. First Team All-Conference honoree Akira Itadani stepped up and scored it to tie the game at one with just over 30 minutes left to play.
In the 77th minute a William Woods player received a second yellow card giving Baker a one-man advantage for the rest of the game. Just under three minutes later, Baker's Utah Hester scored off a corner kick giving the Wildcats a 2-1 win.
#2 MidAmerica Nazarene Defeats #7 Missouri Valley, 2-1 - BOX SCORE
Missouri Valley jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the 11th minute as Oliver Baladi scored. MidAmerica Nazarene then responded in the 22nd minute as Elyes Ellouz connected with Jaxon Slaven to tie the game at one with 22:30 left until halftime.
Still in the first half, and eight minutes after their first goal, the Pioneers added a second goal, this time from Heart of America Offensive Player of the Year, Antonio Mugica taking a 2-1 lead into halftime.
The Pioneers and Vikings combined for 14 shots in the second half, but neither team could score another goal as MidAmerica Nazarene came away with the 2-1 win and advanced to the semifinals.
#3 Grand View Defeats #6 Central Methodist, 4-2 - BOX SCORE
Only three minutes into the game, Central Methodist's Robin Vandewalle scored on a pass from Antoine Hurel as the Eagles took an early 1-0 lead. Second Team All-Conference honoree Payton Chapman of Grand View then scored a penalty kick in the ninth minute to tie the game at one.
Almost reaching overtime tied at one, the Vikings were awarded another penalty kick with just eight seconds left until halftime. Chapman then netted his second PK of the game and gave Grand View a 2-1 lead heading into the locker room.
In the 63rd minute the Eagles' Koen Schimmel who earned Second Team All-Conference honors netted a goal to tie the game once again at 2-2.
The Vikings would add two more goals in the final 20 minutes as First Team All-Conference honoree Justin Figaroa and Wilmont Manneh each scored goals as the Vikings came away with a 4-2 win to advance.
#4 William Penn Defeats #5 Park, 3-0 - BOX SCORE
The Statesmen jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first seven minutes behind a goal from Second Team All-Conference honoree Angel Valdez. The first half scoring didn't stop there, and about 16 minutes later, Third Team All-Conference honoree John-Joe Mullane netted William Penn's second goal to take a 2-0 lead.
Mullane was not done scoring netting his second goal and the team's third to help the Statesmen take a commanding 3-0 lead into halftime.
Throughout the second half, Park was able to take five shots and William Penn made two saves as the second half went scoreless and William Penn came away with a 3-0 win to advance.