The #1-ranked Dalton State men's soccer team trailed at the half for the first time all season, but showed what they were made of in the second half with three goals to advance to the finals of the 2024 SSAC Men's Soccer Championship presented by Newk's Eatery with a 3-1 win over #12 William Carey (Miss.) at Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex in Montgomery, Ala. on Thursday night.
After a foul in the box in the first minute, Caoimhin McConnell stepped up and knocked it past Nicolas Leite who chose right and just missed the well-stricken ball that went past his outstretched hand.
The Roadrunners tied it up in the 53' when a corner kick was batted around in the box and converted into a score by Antonio Bittencourt.
Dalton State took the lead in the 60' when a save off a free kick led to Bittencourt crossing a ball in the box that found Juan Demichelis for the goal.
Mason Dalton began the last scoring play of the night when he stole a ball shy of midfield and charged forward before hitting a lead pass to Jack Stainrod who took a shot just inside the box and went lower left 90 to give the Birds breathing room.
#1 Dalton State (Ga.) improves to (16-0-2 overall) on the season with the win, while #12 William Carey (Miss.) falls to (12-4-2 overall) with the loss. Antonio Bittencourt, Juan Demichelis, and Jack Stainrod all scored for the Birds with Bittencourt, and Mason Dalton collecting assists.
The most glaring stat of the match showed the true resolve of the #1-ranked Roadrunners as they allowed 4 total shots with one coming on goal in the first half and allowing zero shots of any kind in the second period.
In contrast, the Birds took 7 shots in the second half. Four of those came on frame with 3 being goals.
#1 Dalton State advances to play #3 Mobile (Ala.) in the finals of the 2024 SSAC Men's Soccer Championship presented by Newk's Eatery. The match will take place on Saturday, November 9, at Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex in Montgomery, Ala., at 7:00 p.m. (CT).