LAKEWOOD, NJ (Nov. 10, 2024) - Georgian Court Men's Soccer is moving on to the CACC Semifinals! Behind three second-half goals, the No. 2 seeded Lions disposed of the No. 7 seed Goldey-Beacom Lightning 3-1. The win is the Lions 11th of the season and moves them to the semifinals for the second consecutive season.

How it Happened
• It was an evenly played game, especially in the first 45 minutes. Georgian Court led in total shots 14-8 and 8-4 in shots on goal. GCU finished the first half with just two more shots though than the Lightning, 6-4.
• Possession numbers saw Goldey-Beacom controlling the ball more, 52% of the time. Most of that was near the end of the game when the Lions were in a defensive mindset.
• The Lions got the benefit of 18 free kicks from GBC fouls while the Lions were only whistled for 12. There were seven total yellow cards issued, four on Goldey-Beacom, three on the Lions.
• It was a relatively quiet first half of play. Neither team had a shot on goal in the first 20 minutes and there were only three total.
• Very early, in the fourth minute, the Lions had a golden chance to take a 1-0 lead, but Svante Haakansson's open shot was pushed wide and stayed out of the net.
• Later on down at the other end, the Lightning had a point-blank opportunity but Oscar Jannesson was there to block the shot and keep the match scoreless.
• Blocked shots were a theme in the first half. Goldey-Beacom especially had a number of shots and passes blocked as they did a good job clogging up the lanes.
• Kel Ordonez had a dangerous shot at the end of the first half, but he hooked it wide and the half ended as it started, 0-0.
• It wasn't scoreless for long into the second half. Jack Pollintine-Smith was rewarded for his hustle. He harassed the Lightning's freshman goalkeeper inside the box to cause a turnover and with the goalkeeper on the ground, had a clear shot on net and did not miss, scoring just two minutes into the period and putting the Lions up 1-0.
• Ayendi Batista made a couple of saves to keep the Lions 1-0 lead and eventually, GCU got the breathing room they needed.
• Mikey Mallon's pass into the box found Maurice Engl who ripped a shot on net. Engl was stonewalled on a terrific save from the Lightning goalkeeper but the rebound fell at the feet of Alessandro Cavallini who one-timed it high into the net for a 2-0 lead with 22 minutes left to play.
• Less than five minutes later, the Lions put the game away. Gijs van Eif, who the Lightning had done an excellent job defending, got his opportunity and connected. David Tuschmann won a ball at midfield and immediately sent it ahead to van Eif who was on a breakaway and tucked it past the keeper and into the net for a three-goal lead.
• Goldey-Beacom got a bit closer with a penalty kick goal after a foul inside the box in the 83rd minute. That was all though as they couldn't get anything else on net the rest of the game in the Lions 3-1 win.

Lion Stat Leaders
• Gijs van Eif made the most of his one shot scoring GCU's third goal.
• Jack Pollintine-Smith was all over the field and scored on two shots.
• Alessandro Cavallini scored on his only shot as well.
• David Tuschmann and Maurice Engl each earned an assist.
• Ayendi Batista got the win making three saves.

For the Lightning
• Their lone goal came on a penalty kick from Ogun Unal.
• Pedro Montanes made five stops.

News and Notes
• With the win, Ayendi Batista set a new Lions program record with 11 wins in a single-season.
• The Lions also defeated Goldey-Beacom 3-1 back on Oct. 30 this season.
• Welcome back Joseph Ficarotta who played for the first time since late September. It was also his 50th career game played. 
• Gijs van Eif is now just the fourth Lion to ever reach 40 career points and the third Lion to score 30 in a single-season.
• The Lions 11 wins this season are the third most in program history.
• For the second time in program history the Lions have reached back-to-back CACC Tournament semifinals during full CACC seasons (2020's shortened season not withstanding).

Up Next
• Georgian Court stays at home for the semifinals. They'll host No. 3 Felician Wednesday, Nov. 13 at 1 pm.