Men's Soccer Upsets Third-Seeded Pfeiffer, 2-0 In Conference Carolinas Tournament Quarterfinal

After a scoreless first half, the Belmont Abbey men's soccer team received second half goals from Aaron Weldon and Jose Penaloza just eight minutes apart as the sixth-seeded Crusaders upset the third-seeded Pfeiffer Falcons on their home field 2-0 this afternoon in the quarterfinal round of the 2009 Conference Carolinas Tournament. The Abbey, which went on the road to upset the higher seed for the third-straight year, improves to 11-7-1, while the Falcons end their season with a record of 13-5. The win avenged a 6-2 loss in Misenheimer back on September 12.

Pfeiffer outshot the Abbey 18-13, including 14-7 in the second half, but only the Crusaders found the back of the net as Weldon put the Abbey on top at the 60:57 mark as Weldon ran down a long pass from Jack Reid and chipped a shot over the head of goalkeeper Alex Moreno for his second goal of the year.

Just over eight minutes later, Penaloza added an insurance goal, connecting on an unassisted tally from 17 yards out to extend the advantage to 2-0.

In the 83rd minute, sophomore Julian Ballesteros narrowly missed extending the lead to 3-0, but his header banged off the crossbar.

Pfeiffer recorded four corner kicks to a pair for the Abbey. Moreno made three saves, while Brandon Alvarez collected four, all coming in the second half.

The Abbey advaces to the semifinal round, where it will go on the road to face the second-seeded Limestone Saints Friday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. The Abbey eliminated the Saints from the tournament on their home field each of the last two seasons.

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