MAHWAH, N.J. --- The Moravian College men's soccer team made its first postseason appearance since 2003, and the Greyhounds battled through 110 minutes of scoreless action against William Paterson University in the first round of the 2016 ECAC Division III Championship Tournament but it was the Pioneers that earned the right to advance to the quarterfinals on penalty kicks, 3-1, after a double-overtime draw Saturday afternoon at Ramapo College, the regions top seed.
The Greyhounds, who finish the year at 8-4-5 with the tie, were the third seed in the region while William Paterson was the second seed. The ECAC changed the format of the tournament this year with one overall tournament with region-based opening rounds. After Saturday's eight first round matches, the eight remaining teams in the 16-team field will play the quarterfinals on Sunday, November 13. The four regional winners will head to the highest remaining seed for the semifinals and championship match on Saturday and Sunday, November 19-20. Rutgers-Camden enters the opening weekend as the top overall seed.
When the teams hit the field for penalty kicks, the Hounds missed their first two attempts by junior forward Hunter Ackerson and sophomore midfielder David Durski before sophomore forward Kenny Fellows put Moravian on the board. Sophomore midfielder Ron Jones was up next with a chance to keep the Greyhounds alive but was wide of the net while William Paterson scored three times on four shots to earn the right to advance.
Moravian junior goalie Bryan Yaskowski made 10 saves in the match as he posted his fifth shutout of the season.
The Greyhounds had a 24-19 advantage in shots in the contest, and nearly took an early lead in the fourth minute when sophomore forward Koshane Marshall headed a shot on goal. Jones added a shot on the keeper in the ninth minute while junior midfielder Brett Lubben and junior midfielder William Demmel had shots on goal late in the first half.
Moravian made a late push in regulation with senior forward Saul Marcial, junior midfielder Connor Phillips and freshman midfielder Thulani Motekase all putting shots on goal in the 88th in a span of 42 seconds. The Greyhounds would also have three shots go high in the first overtime.
