Dallas Overpowers Top Seeded Penn State Abington to Advance to Finals

The fifth seeded Crusaders upset the number one seeded Penn State Abington in a semifinal match of the NEAC this afternoon, 4-0. With a first half marred by fouls, the University of Dallas found them selves playing man up by half's end. Having the possession the majority of the time, the Crusaders couldn't find the back of the net and ended the first half at a 0-0 standstill.

At the intermission the tide turned and Dallas seized the momentum in the second frame with their eye set on reaching the NEAC finals once again. Senior co-captain and midfielder Aaron Tucker (North Richland Hills, TX/Birdville H.S.) came out controlling the midfield in the second half which proved to be in Dallas' favor. Continuing his outstanding performance from Thursday's match, junior midfielder/forward Ryan Meske (Niwot, CO/Niwot H.S.) sparked the offense by crossing the ball into fellow midfielder and sophomore Michael Chapman (Madison, MS/St. Joseph’s Catholic School). Dallas continued their hard nose play and senior co-captain Matt Stamper (Bentonville, AR/Bentonville H.S.) put the squad up 2-0 after a beautifully slotted ball by Meske. The junior from Colorado was not done yet. He found the back of the net from a ball sent in by junior Sam Sheetz (Alexandria, VA/Bishop Denis J. O’Connell H.S.) to put the Crusaders up 3-0, and out of reach for the Nittany Lions from Abington. The fourth goal came from freshman forward Billy Stofer off a pass from junior midfielder/forward Phil Conley (Palatine, IL/Palatine H.S.).

The Crusaders out shot the Lions 28-3, including a 22 shot differential in their pivotal four goal frame. Junior starting goalkeeper Paul Stauduhar (Longwood, FL/Lake Mary H.S.) and freshman brother Sean Stauduhar (Longwood, FL/Lake Mary H.S.) manned the net for UD, and the Stauduhar duo walked away with the combined shutout. The limited shots the keepers faced were the direct results of the team dominating the midfield and all around outstanding defensive play. Sophomore Blaise Dufrain (Manassas, VA/Seton Home School), sophomore Preston Waltrip (Derby, KS/Derby H.S.), Joey Killion (Houston, TX/Katy H.S.), and the rest of the defenders led the way in the lopsided affair.

The Crusader's look forward to the NEAC championship game for a second year in a row. The game is slated to start at 1:00pm against Cazenovia College in familiar Penn Yan, NY.