Barton, Converse Advance to Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Semifinals

11/4/2023 7:43:38 PM

YOUNG HARRIS, Ga./SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Fifth-seeded Converse and sixth-seeded Barton each advanced to the 2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Championship semifinals with quarterfinal victories on Saturday.

In Spartanburg, the host Valkyries scored a pair of goals in the second half to defeat ninth-seeded Emmanuel, 2-1 at Weisiger Stadium. It was the Lions who scored first in the 29th minute as Rafael Calderon headed home a free kick off the crossbar on a service from Nathan Walker for the early lead. Less than three minutes into the second half the Valkyries drew even as Nathan Hoover and Maximilian Seiwald used a pair of one-touch passes to free Jaxon Keene who beat the keeper for the equalizer. The game-winner came in the 76th minute off a corner kick as Johannes Haden headed in a service from Guilherme Fontes for the final margin, 2-1. Converse outshot Emmanuel 19-9 in the contest with 10 shots on frame to just three for the Lions. Emmanuel keeper Natxo Faus made seven saves in the game despite the loss.

An instant classic played out in Young Harris that eventually saw Barton advance via a 4-3 edge in penalty kicks over the host Mountain Lions. It was a crazy game that saw Barton jump out to a 3-0 lead in the first half with goals from Kai Thurston (9:17), Gabriel Slemer Lopes (22:17) and Peer Brendler (43:47). Less than two minutes into the second half Young Harris began a string of four consecutive goals to take a 4-3 lead with less than six minutes to play. Riccardo Sambugaro got the scoring started for the hosts in the 47th minute and was followed by Thomas Kleinpenning (63:57), Pato Padilla (71:17) and Alexsi Morel (84:41). Then in the 89th minute, Brendler connected on his second goal of the game to send the game to overtime.

The Bulldogs again opened the scoring in the extra period with a goal from Immanuel Akpeme in the 99th minute. It looked as though it would be the game-winner, but, with 15 seconds to play, Kleinpenning again found the back of the net to send the game to penalty kicks. In the PKs, the Bulldogs advanced 4-3 on a goal from Slemer Lopes. Young Harris outshot Barton 19-9 in the contest and put 11 shots on goal to five for the Bulldogs. Steingrimur Gunnarsson, the keeper for the Bulldogs, made six saves in the contest with five coming in the final 65 minutes of play.

Converse advances to play top-seeded Francis Marion in the semifinals at the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park in Browns Summit, North Carolina on Friday, Nov. 10 at 11 a.m. Barton will face No. 2 Chowan in the second men’s semifinal on Friday, Nov. 10 at 1:30 p.m.

Fans can watch every game of the tournament live via the Conference Carolinas Digital Network and BlueFrame at conferencecarolinasdn.com. Information regarding the championship schedule, bracket and the Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park are available here.

2023 Conference Carolinas Men’s Soccer Championship
First Round – Wednesday, November 1 (Higher Seed Hosts)
#9 Emmanuel def. #4 Belmont Abbey, 2-1 (OT)
#5 Converse def. #8 Lees-McRae, 3-2 (OT)
#6 Barton def. #7 Mount Olive, 1-0

Quarterfinals – Saturday, November 4 (Higher Seed Hosts)
#5 Converse def. #9 Emmanuel, 2-1
#6 Barton def. #3 Young Harris, 5-5 (4-3 PKs)

Semifinals – Friday, November 10 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
#5 Converse vs. #1 Francis Marion, 11:00 a.m.
#6 Barton vs. #2 Chowan, 1:30 p.m.

Final – Sunday, November 12 (Truist Soccer Complex at Bryan Park – Browns Summit, N.C.)
Winner of Semifinal #1 vs. Winner of Semifinal #2, 1 p.m.