Lions win AAC tourney 2-1 to advance to Nationals in soccer

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Senior defender Stephen Milledge holds the AAC Tournament Championship plaque while he celebrates with his teammates. (Triangle photo by Kat Frazier)

By Kat Frazier
Sports Writer

The Bryan Lions defeated the Virginia Intermont (Bristol, Va.) Cobras 2-1 at home to win the AAC Conference Championship Saturday night.

Both teams fought for a goal in the first half, but entered the half scoreless.

In the 47th minute, senior defender Rasheed Malcolm was able to place the ball into the corner of the net putting the Lions up 1-0. Five minutes later the Cobras answered to tie the game.

In the 53rd minute senior midfielder Alan da Costa scored the game-winning goal off a pass from freshman midfielder Josh Smotherman.

The Lions recorded 11 shots with three of them on goal, while the Cobras had seven shots with three on goal. Junior goalkeeper Josh Oldroyd made two saves during the game.

β€œIt was a team effort. All the credit goes to them,” Bryan Head Coach Joey Johnson said of his players.

Following the game senior defender Stephen Millage could only say that, β€œ[it was an] absolutely amazing journey!”

The Lions, 15-3 overall, now head to the first round of the NAIA national tournament on Nov. 23, time and location to be announced at 2 p.m. Monday. Bryan has bid to host that opening-round match.