Plougmand sends Lions to SAC Semifinals with OT winner

HICKORY, N.C. - The Mars Hill men's soccer team (10-5-3) advanced to the South Atlantic Conference Semifinals with their 2-1 overtime win over Lenoir-Rhyne (10-5-1) Saturday evening.

On the Lions' third shot of the overtime period, with 1:31 remaining, Peter Plougmand juggled a pass from Sebastian Bertilsson by a Bears' defender, headed the ball over the Bears' goalkeeper, settled down the bouncing sphere, and on his third touch, buried his eighth of the year inside the wide open cage for the game-winner.

The Lions, the No. 6 seed in the tournament, struck first in the 12th minute as Bertilsson's shot was directed behind the Bears' goalkeeper off of a Lenoir-Rhyne defender.

In the 24th minute, the Bears were able to draw a foul inside the box and force a penalty kick.  Carles Montoliu Lobo knotted the game at one with his third of the season.

Lenoir-Rhyne outshot the Lions 10-5 in the second half, forcing Brennan Whalen to make six saves.  He made two more in overtime, totalling nine on the night.

The Lions were outshot 16-9 with Jaime De Manuel and Victor Cascon leading the Bears with four attempts apiece.  Kevonte Willoughby-Williams led the Lions with four shot attempts.

Whalen made nine saves in the win while Juan Basabe stopped four of six in the loss.

Mars Hill advances to the SAC Semifinals where they'll take on the No. 7 seeded Catawba Indians.  Kickoff at the Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, North Carolina is set for 8 p.m.