Box Score

BRYN MAWR, Pa. – The Cabrini College men's soccer team made its first trip to the Colonial States Athletic Conference championship match since 2009 and the two-year hiatus was made sweeter today as the Cavaliers can again call themselves “Champions.”  The Blue and White topped Rosemont College 2-1 this afternoon to claim the 2012 CSAC crown and the league's automatic bid to the 2012 NCAA Tournament.

The victory improved the Cavaliers to 11-7-3 and extended its current unbeaten streak to eight matches, including seven wins.  The win gives the Cavaliers their 8th conference title, joining titles in 1993-1995, 1998-98 and 2008-09.

With junior goaltender Eric Nowicki out due to injury, freshman R.J. Pino was called into duty, making his first career start.  The Cavaliers knew an early goal would help the rookie relax and that is just what they provided.  

Just 99 seconds into the match, freshman Boomer Steigelman found senior Anthony Girolamo's head, as the senior's header beat Rosemont goaltender Nick Hulayew.  Girolamo's sixth goal of the season gave the Cavaliers an early 1-0 lead.  

Even with a 1-0 lead, it was Pino and the Blue and White's defensive effort that maintained the advantage.    The Ravens outshot Cabrini 9-4 in the first half, but the rookie was on point, recording five saves in the opening 45 minutes.  

The score remained 1-0 until the 61st minute when a Rosemont foul gave Cabrini a free kick about 25 yards from the goal.  Senior Kyle Johnson's service found junior Gabe Kuhn in the penalty area and the junior finished the opportunity for his third tally of the campaign.

The Ravens continued to fire shots but most went off target.  Rosemont found its scoring touch in the 73rd minute when Yohana Ghede got his head on a Tom Bottoms throw-in and sent it past Pino.  

The Ravens continued to fight for the equalizing goal, firing four shots in the match's final 19 minutes.  While the first three missed the target, Pino's save in the 89th minute on the final shot of the match secured the victory.

Rosemont outshot Cabrini 22-7, including 10-4 in shots on goal, and attempted eight corner kicks to the Blue and White's two, but the Cavaliers were up to the task.

Senior center back Ryan Juhring was named Most Valuable Player of the CSAC championship game after directing the Cavaliers' defensive effort.

Pino recorded nine saves in his first career start.

Rodney Aguirre led the Ravens with six shots, including three on goal, in the loss.  Hulayew recorded two saves for the Ravens.

By virtue of today's win, the Cavaliers will make their fourth appearance in the NCAA Tournament.  Cabrini will learn its fate on Monday at 1:00 p.m. when the NCAA broadcasts its Men's Soccer Selection Show on NCAA.com.