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C of C is hosting the Southern Conference men's tournament, beginning Thursday, 11/13. Thursday and Friday's games will be at the C of C stadium at Patriot's Point in Mt. Pleasant. The action shifts to the Charleston Battery's Blackbaud Stadium for Saturday's semis and Sunday's final. Check out the action this weekend.

http://cougars.cofc.edu/mens/soccer/news/20031112-1.html

Keith Wiggans has led the Cougars to five straight shut-out wins

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Story last updated at 7:10 a.m. Thursday, November 13, 2003

Cougars roll into SoCon men's soccer tournament as No. 2

BY RICK NELSON -- Of The Post and Courier Staff

The College of Charleston is on a roll heading into the Southern Conference men's soccer tournament today at Patriots Point.

"We've identified who we are and how we play and the players have committed to that," head coach Ralph Lundy said. "We're tough defensively, and we're run-and-gun in the attack. It's a unique style in a way, but it's worked."

Second seed Charleston (5-2-0), which faces seventh seed Elon (1-5-1) at 7 p.m., is unbeaten in its last nine matches and has shut out seven of its last eight opponents.

The Cougars' last loss was a 2-1 setback at UNC Greensboro on Sept. 27.

They closed out their regular season with a 2-2 tie at South Carolina and a 5-0 win over VMI to improve to 11-3-3 overall.

Despite the run, Lundy remains wary of the Phoenix.

"I'm very focused on Elon because they've beaten South Carolina and tied Furman," he said. "They possess the ball, which allows them to control the tempo of the game."

Goals were hard to come by last year for the Cougars, but they lead the league in six major offensive categories this season, including goals per game (2.41).

Five players have at least four goals and four assists, and a sixth, Ricardo Diaz Granados, has nine goals and three assists.

As impressive as Charleston's offense has been, its defense has been even better. Goalkeeper Keith Wiggans has posted seven shutouts, and the Cougars lead the league with a 0.79 goals-against average.

"Keith has been a rock, and everyone has confidence in him," Lundy said.

Top seed Davidson also has a potent offense, and Wildcats goalkeeper Bart Creasman has a 0.76 goals-against average. The Wildcats, who beat Duke this year, knocked off the Cougars, 2-1, early in the season.

With traditional power Furman struggling through a rare off year, the tournament appears to be more wide open than it's been in years.

"Davidson had a great year, and they're really the favorite in a sense," Lundy said. "But there is a lot of parity in the league this year. Anything can happen."

Davidson (6-1-0) starts the tournament against eight seed Wofford (1-6-0) at 4:30 p.m. today. The Charleston-Elon match will follow.

Play continues Friday with fourth seed Furman (3-2-2) and fifth seed Appalachian State (3-4-0) at 4:30 p.m., and third seed UNCG (4-1-2) and sixth seed Georgia Southern (2-4-1) at 7 p.m.

The action shifts to Blackbaud Stadium for the semifinals at 3:30 p.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday and the championship at 1 p.m. Sunday. The winner gets an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

All-session passes for the tournament are $15. Individual session tickets, available at the gate on game days, are $5 for adults and $3 for students and youths. Call (843) 953-5479 for more information.

Meyers' goal lifts Cougs into SoCon soccer semis

STATE REPORT

MOUNT PLEASANT--Tony Meyers' goal in the 51st minute proved to be the game-winner as College of Charleston downed Elon 1-0 in the first round of the Southern Conference men's soccer tournament at Patriots Point on Thursday night.

The second-seeded Cougars outshot Elon 7-1 and applied constant pressure on the defense of the Phoenix (6-11-2). The offensive push was led by forwards Meyers and Ricardo Diaz Granados.
Meyers' goal came halfway through the second half after a sustained attack in the offensive zone with Meyers knocking in a cross from Scott Milroth at the 51:27 mark. College of Charleston held off an Elon attack late in the second half for the win.

The Cougars (12-3-3) advance to Saturday's semifinals, set to be played at Blackbaud Stadium on Daniel Island. Charleston plays in the 6 p.m. match against the winner of tonight's match between third-seeded UNC Greensboro and sixth-seeded Georgia Southern (7 p.m., Patriots Point).

Charleston's 12 wins represent its most wins since the 1995 season, when the Cougars went 14-7-1.

In the day's other match, Jeff Davis scored with 15 minutes remaining to lift top-seeded Davidson (13-5-2) to a 1-0 victory over eighth seed Wofford (3-16).

The Wildcats move on to Saturday's 3:30 p.m. semifinal match. They will face today's winner between fourth-seeded Furman and fifth-seeded Appalachian State (4:30 p.m., Patriots Point).
The Wildcats had a 20-3 edge in shots. Keeper Philip Trotter kept the Terriers in it with nine saves.

2003 Southern Conference Men's Soccer All-Conference Teams:

First Team
GK Alex Maslow, Furman
D Mark Thornton, Appalachian State
D Drew Cavanaugh, College of Charleston
D John Latting, Davidson
D McNeil Cronin, Furman
MF Clint Dempsey, Furman
MF James Goodman, UNC Greensboro
F Keon McPherson, Appalachian State
F Scott Hoch, Furman
F Tony Moffat, Georgia Southern

Second Team
GK Keith Wiggans, College of Charleston
GK Bart Creasman, Davidson
D Nahum Navas, Davidson
D Brent McDowell, Elon
D Casey Davis, UNC Greensboro
MF Sage Martina, College of Charleston
MF Justin Porter, Davidson
MF Egill Atlason, UNC Greensboro
F Ricardo Diaz Granados, College of Charleston; F Jeff Files, College of Charleston
F Randi Patterson, UNC Greensboro

Player of the Year: Tony Moffat, Georgia Southern

Freshman of the Year: Scott Jones, UNC Greensboro

Coach of the Year: Matt Spear, Davidson

The home town boys pull through. It's #2 C of C vs. #1 Davidson at 1:00 at Blackbaud Stadium on Sunday for the championship. Winner gets an automatic invite to the NCAA tourney.

http://www.soconsports.com/article.asp?articleid=50539

Davidson wins the Championship 1-0. Cougs had a goal called back in the 2nd half due to offside. Somewhat controversial. Good vocal crowd, students from both schools well respresented, maybe 1,000 in attendance. Cougs had a great year, I guess they won't get an at-large invite to the NCAA tournament.