Eagles Advance To National Championship Match On PK's

Kissimmee, FL - With a spot in the NCCAA National Championship Match, on Friday afternoon it was Eagles versus Trolls Round Three. 

It was an old fashion conference dual between two evenly matched teams. With Judson having won the first two meetings this season, JU also got out to a good start to assert themselves in the contest. In the 33rd minute, it was senior Samuel Chavez to get the Eagles out front on the scoreboard.  Ovidio Paez assisted him, as it was just Chavez' first goal down in Florida, and fourth overall on the season. 

Just four minutes later, Judson got another one home thanks to Gabriel Trevison, also assisted by Paez. 

With a 2-0 lead, the teams headed to halftime with the Eagles looking really good to advance. 

But it was a tale of two halves, as Trinity cam out quickening the pace in the second half. Needing two goals, the Trolls were able to tie the game at the end of regulation and advance to overtime tied 2-2. 

In both overtimes. the teams traded small chances at the net during the sudden-death; game-winning goal frames, but neither team was able to break through. 

After 110 minutes, the game went into overtime. On the women's side, similarly, their NCCAA Regional Championship match also went into Penalty Kicks, against the same school in Trinity two weeks prior. 

Starting first, Judson was able to get the first PK to go through, thanks to Noel Rodriguez. Pablo Escobar, Matheus Duarte Torres, and Chavez were also able to find the back of the net to follow suit. 

During the Penalty Kicks, Judson went a perfect 5-5 with the capper being from co-captain Gabriel Uno on a ball that bounced off of the crossbar and landed straight down, just enough over the goal line to end the match. Judson would win 2-2 (5-3 in penalty kicks.)

Judson, now 1-0-2 in Florida, and 11-4-8 overall have reached the final game of the season on Saturday. Judson was also 3-0 versus Trinity alone this season. 

In the National Championship Match, it will be Judson versus Carolina University from North Carolina for the crown. 

On the men's side, the Eagles will look to get their first NCCAA National Championship since 2009. It would be their 7th overall championship for men's soccer in school history.