ELKINS, WV – Courtesy of heroics from senior midfielder Fernando Franco, Alderson Broaddus stormed its way to the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Men’s Soccer Championship title on Saturday afternoon, 2-1 in overtime.
The fourth-seeded Battlers (11-7-2) officially completed an undefeated run through the six-team tournament bracket that ended against No. 3 Cedarville
And it was the ultimate resolve demonstrated by head coach Scott Phipps’ group after the Yellow Jackets had tied it up with less than nine minutes left in regulation.
That answer came in the form of the decisive shot off the foot of Franco in the opening minute of overtime.
It was also sweet redemption for the AB program after only PK’s kept the Battlers from hoisting the hardware following a heartbreaking 2015 outcome in the championship final against this same Cedarville squad.
The sting of coming so close after coming so far can linger, but the AB program was quick to turn the page in the offseason and start fresh.
“I’m incredibly proud and emotional to be honest,” Phipps said afterwards. “To know how we lost in penalties last year and to see it go into overtime again this year was intense. The guys showed so much resolve and grit this season; to see it culminate in such a fantastic finish is very gratifying.”
Franco also helped propel Alderson Broaddus into the championship game after netting the game winner against top seed and tourney host Davis & Elkins on Thursday in the semis.
This time, Franco’s game winner past regulation happened just 47 seconds after the first whistle. G-MAC Offensive Player of the Year Shavon John-Brown initially had put AB on top in the 54th minute on a pass from none other than Franco.
But Cedarville fought back and made things all square in the 82nd minute as John Schwien scored his second goal of the season to infuse life into the Yellow Jackets down the stretch.
The Battlers took care of business in the opening round against No. 5 Trevecca Nazarene and pulled the semifinal upset against D&E.
As underdog in terms of seeding for the second straight game, AB gave the No. 4 G-MAC seeds that much more credibility following the fourth-seeded Davis & Elkins title clinched by the Senators’ women at the same time today.
Phipps issued a challenge coming into this contest and his team answered the call in resounding form.
“The message today was simple,” Phipps added. “Play for today and play for your teammates. I asked them what they were willing to give as an individual over the next 90 minutes to give your team the best chance at being successful and bringing the hardware home. They have been immensely focused over the past week and it showed in their performance on the field.”
A valiant bid for four consecutive tourney titles for the Yellow Jackets was foiled by the Battlers as AB was able to win its first G-MAC Championship title since joining the league in 2013.
AB was the No. 2 seed in each of the past two seasons in the conference tournament.
The Battlers are now counting on their at-large hopes for advancing into the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional. There is currently no automatic qualifier for the national tournament in the sport of men’s soccer.