ROCK HILL, S.C. - Senior Ryan Messick blasted home the game-winning score in the 95th minute to lead the 11th-ranked and top-seeded Anderson men's soccer team to a dramatic, 1-0, overtime win past No. 7 seed Lenoir-Rhyne in the 2011 Food Lion South Atlantic Conference Tournament Sunday afternoon at the Manchester Meadows Soccer Complex.
After claiming the league's regular-season title, Anderson (17-3) won its second consecutive conference tourney title will be making its third straight trip to the NCAA Tournament. The Trojans also continue to build on the new school record for wins in single season by winning their fourth straight match and 15 of their last 16.
Lenoir-Rhyne had its season end at 8-9-3, but not before nearly taking the No. 1 seeded Trojans to the limit after dropping a 4-1 regular-season decision to AU back in mid-September, when seniors Daniel Bowers and Lasse Sohrweide each scored two goals.
Anderson posted five of its eight first-half shots in the opening 23 minutes of action, forcing L-R keeper Stefan Dill to make a save on each attempt. But neither the Trojans nor the Bears were able to convert their opportunities and the teams went to the locker rooms at intermission with nothing on the scoreboard.
The Trojans outshot Lenoir-Rhyne, 8-3, in the opening half, but the Bears turned the tables in the final 45 minutes of regulation, recording nine shots to AU's three.
Lenoir-Rhyne fired a flurry of five shots in the opening 10 minutes of the second frame, but missed wide right on one attempt, had another blocked and were denied by AU junior keeper Lukas on three of the shots.
The Trojan defense posted nine shutouts on the season, with two of the clean sheets coming in the conference tourney.
AU notched the only two shots of the extra period, with SAC Player of the Year Lasse Sohrweide getting an attempt off just 27 seconds into the overtime, but four-plus minutes later, Messick gathered in Sohrweide's cross into the box and placed his fourth goal - and second game-winner - of the season in the lower left corner of the net, setting off the AU celebration.
Anderson outshot Lenoir-Rhyne, 14-12 on the afternoon, while shots on goal were even at right apiece. The Bears held a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
Hesse, who was named Tournament MVP, notched eight saves and
Lenoir-Rhyne's Dill collected seven on the afternoon.
Joining Hesse on the All-Tournament Team from Anderson were
Messick, Sohrweide and defender Kevin Butler.
After being ranked second in the Southeast Region by the NCAA last week just behind Coker College, the Trojans are projected to earn a bye in Wednesday's Southeast Region opening round, then travel to Coker for regional action on Friday, Nov. 11.
The NCAA Selection show is scheduled to air Monday night at 7 p.m. at www.ncaa.com.
2011 Food Lion SAC Championship - Men's All-Tournament Team
Lukas Hesse, Anderson (MVP)
Kevin Butler, Anderson
Ryan Messick, Anderson
Lasse Sohrweide, Anderson
Daniel Jones, Lenoir-Rhyne
Jordan Holmes, Lenoir-Rhyne
George Wilson, Lenoir-Ryne
Evan Harvey, Catawba
Domhnall Minogue, Catawba
Leonardo Germniani, Lincoln Memorial
Mario Pinto, Lincoln Memorial
