Box Score

ASTON, Pa. – The Cabrini College men's soccer team did two things tonight it hasn't done since the 2009 season.  For the first time in its last five tries, the Cavaliers topped Neumann University with tonight's 2-1 win in its CSAC semifinal.  By virtue of the win, the Blue and White will return to the CSAC championship match, its first since taking the title in 2009.

The victory gave Cabrini its first 10 win season since 2009 and snapped the Knights' 18 match unbeaten streak against CSAC opponents.  The Cavaliers will advance to their 8th conference championship match on Sunday where they will face number two seed Rosemont College.  The match will be played at 1:00 p.m. at Bryn Mawr College.

Junior Brett Lockbaum opened the scoring in the 22nd minute on Cabrini's first scoring chance of the match.  The junior fired a shot at Neumann goaltender Alex Lacko, who failed to secure the rebound.  Lockbaum stayed with the play and fired his rebound into the net.  

The Blue and White carried its one goal advantage into halftime.   Lockbaum's was the Cavaliers' only shot on goal in the opening 45 minutes but Cabrini made it stand, as the Blue and While held Neumann to just one shot on goal and no corner kicks in the stanza.

It didn't take Cabrini long to warm up after halftime as the Cavaliers doubled their lead in the 49th minute.  Freshman Boomer Steigelman found Lockbaum for the junior's second of the day and eighth of the season.   This is Lockbaum's third career multi-goal outing, with all three coming in Cabrini's last six matches.       

Just 10 minutes later, the Knights rallied as Michael Atallian cut Cabrini's lead in half with his third goal of the season.

The Cavaliers turned to its defense and bench for the final 32 minutes of action, as Cabrini mustered just two shots over the period.   Having just played a taxing first round match last night, head coach Rob Dallas took advantage of a deep bench in the late going.  Neumann fired six shots and secured four corner kicks in the final 30 minutes of play, even hitting the post in the 78th minute, but it wasn't to be as the Blue and White held on for the win.

The Knights outshot Cabrini 16-7, but managed just three shots on goal.  Cabrini's goaltending tandem of junior Eric Nowicki and freshman R.J. Pino combined for two saves to secure the victory.  Lockbaum recorded four of the Cavaliers' seven shots, while freshmen Nick Nikic and Andrew Welsh added the other three.

The win sets up Sunday's championship match against second seeded Rosemont College.  The Ravens topped  Marywood 4-1 this afternoon, stopping the Pacers' hopes of appearing in three consecutive CSAC title games.   Sunday's match will mark the Ravens' first championship game appearance in the four year old program.  

It took 99 minutes, but Rosemont defeated the Cavaliers 2-1 in their regular season meeting at Edith Robb Dixon Field.  Senior Anthony Girolamo's 19th minute goal gave Cabrini an early lead.  Rosemont's Greg Sauer leveled the score just before halftime.  The match went to overtime tied at one until Rodney Aguirre ended the festivities with just 71 seconds remaining in the first overtime period.