ANDERSON, S.C. - Sophomore midfielder Ryan Messick scored the game-winning goal in the 86th minute as 11th-ranked and top-seeded Anderson Trojans held off eighth-seeded Wingate, 2-1, in quarterfinal action of the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tuesday afternoon at Trojan Stadium.
Anderson (15-3) moves on to meet No. 4 seed Lincoln Memorial Friday afternoon at the Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex in Rock Hill, S.C. The Railsplitters downed fifth-seeded Carson-Newman 4-1 Tuesday afternoon. Wingate's season ended at 4-13.
Anderson has won 16 consecutive home contests and 17-of-18 since beginning play at Trojan Stadium last season.
Meeting for the second time in just four days and following the Trojans 4-2 win past the Bulldogs in the two teams' regular-season finale, the teams battled to a 0-0 halftime tie in a defensive struggle.
Wingate held a 4-3 advantage in shots at intermission, including a 2-0 edge in shots on goal.
The Bulldogs struck first, as freshman forward Fabio Azerado scored his first goal of the season on an assist from junior midfielder Joshua Jokic in the 58th minute.
But senior forward Lasse Sohrweide notched the equalizer on a penalty kick in the 72nd minute, for his league-leading 16th score of the season.
With time winding down, Messick worked past the Wingate defender on the right side of the box and fired a left-footed attempt into the back of the net for his first game-winning score of the season with just 4:26 remaining on the clock.
Wingate out-shot AU, 14-8 on the afternoon, while the Trojans held a 9-6 advantage in corner kicks. Anderson junior keeper Lukas Hesse went the distance, earning three saves and surrendering one goal, while Wingate senior goalkeeper Peter Trask recorded a save and allowed two goals.
The Trojans' semifinal match versus LMU is scheduled for 3 p.m. AU defeated Lincoln Memorial, 1-0, in the teams' regular-season matchup 10 days ago in Harrogate, Tenn.
