DAYTON, Tenn. (SESN) — A pair of Cesar Castro goals propelled No. 3 Bryan to the 2024 Appalachian Athletic Conference (AAC) Men’s Soccer Tournament championship on Saturday.
Castro scored in the 55th and 64th minutes to put the Lions up 2-0. No. 4 Truett McConnell cut the deficit in half when Oscar Brennan scored in the 78th minute. However, Bryan held on for the 2-1 victory and the tournament crown.
This is Bryan’s first men’s soccer tournament championship since 2013.
By virtue of winning the tournament title, Bryan received an automatic berth to the NAIA National Championship Tournament, joining Union Commonwealth which garnered an automatic berth as the regular-season championship.
Castro was named the Tournament MVP. Joining him on the All-Tournament Team are David Gomez, James Mitchell, and Jack Smith of Bryan; Brennan, Hendrik Metje, and Pablo Farrona of Truett McConnell; James McFadden and Biel Vallverdu from Union Commonwealth; and Simen Haradstad and Elies Simo of Milligan.
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE
Friday, Nov. 1 (at the higher seed’s home site)
Game 1 – No. 1 Union Commonwealth (13-1-2) def. No. 8 Johnson (6-7-4), 5-0 (box)
Game 2 – No. 4 Truett McConnell (10-4-3) tied No. 5 Columbia International (8-5-4), 1-1 (2OT) (TMU advanced on PKs, 4-3) (box)
Game 3 – No. 2 Milligan (12-0-4) def. No. 7 St. Andrews (7-8-2), 1-0 (box)
Game 4 – No. 3 Bryan (10-5-2) def. No. 6 Tennessee Wesleyan (7-8-2), 4-2 (box)
Tuesday, Nov. 5 (at the higher seed’s home site)
Game 5 – No. 4 Truett McConnell (11-4-3) def. No. 1 Union Commonwealth (13-2-2), 3-1 (box)
Game 6 – No. 3 Bryan (10-5-3) at No. 2 Milligan (12-0-5), 1-1 (box) (Bryan advanced on PKs, 4-3)
Saturday, Nov. 9 (at the higher seed’s home site)
Game 7 – Championship Game – No. 3 Bryan (11-5-3) def. No. 4 Truett McConnell (11-5-3), 2-1 (box)
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