Box Score What is pressure?

Is it searching for a program's first signature win in two years? Is it trying to beat a team that beat you, 2-0 five weeks ago? Is it withstanding 110 minutes of soccer in front of your home crowd? Or is it lining the ball up 12 yards from the goalkeeper knowing you can send your team to the NCCAA National Tournament?

If any or all of these are true, then consider the Lancaster Bible men's soccer team calm, cool and collected. The Chargers won the program's third NCCAA East Region title on Saturday as they defeated Cairn in penalty kicks, 4-2 at Charger Field. The victory sends the Chargers to the NCCAA National Tournament which will be held next month in Kissimmee, Fla. 

Saturday's affair was back-and-forth with the wind playing a factor for much of the day. Each team had chances in the first half, as play was split between both squads. One team would possess the ball for five minutes and then the other team would control play for the next five minutes. The chance of the half came with 1:27 remaining when Cairn's Jeremy McAlack's shot was heading into the goal, but LBC's Zac Bonomo was able to get a foot on the ball prior to it crossing the goal line.

"I was content with the way we played in the first half," Chargers Head Coach Tom Ardt said. "Not overly pleased, but we limited their chances which is something we talked about. I thought we created some problems for their back line with our speed which was good to see."

The Chargers (5-9-3) controlled possession and play for the first third of the second half, but still could not connect on any of their offensive chances. 

"We moved the ball side-to-side very well in the second half, but still didn't get enough scoring chances," Ardt said.

As the game wore on, the physical play picked up which resulted in three yellow cards for the Chargers. Ben Noel, Marc Cooper and Nate Grimley picked up those cards for the Chargers, but nevertheless, LBC had Cairn's attention elsewhere for parts of the second half, which may or may not have helped keep the game scoreless.

After regulation expired, the teams began two 10-minute overtimes in which both teams once again each team had its chances, but couldn't convert. Both goalkeepers, Stefan Smith for LBC and Dave Shaffer for Cairn, made two saves in the first overtime period. The second 10-minute overtime also proved fruitless and for the third straight meeting between these two schools in the NCCAA East Region Final, the game went to penalty kicks.

LBC's Josiah Groff and Cairn's Andrew Milcarek each scored in round one, while Ben Noel made it 2-1 for LBC at the beginning of round two. Smith made a huge save on Cody Mosley's attempt to preserve the 2-1 lead after two rounds for LBC. The Chargers' Brandon Wilcox dinged his third round attempt off of the post, but Cairn could not take advantage as Adam Langdon missed his attempt as well.

Both Grimley for LBC and Andrew Gordon for Cairn scored in round four as Zac Bonomo found himself with the game on his foot to lead off round five. After a quick stutter-step, Bonomo drilled a shot into the top right corner of the net and sent not only the Chargers to Florida, but the LBC fan base onto the field as they chased him down and tackled him.

"Just a great finish by Zac in a big situation," Ardt said. "I'm very happy for him."

Ardt said the team has ended its practices for the past few days different than they have for much of the season.

"We've been practicing penalty kicks at the end of the past few practices just in case this happened and the guys have done a great job," Ardt said. "Each one of those guys today stepped right up and did exactly what they've been practicing."

Ardt also mentioned the coaching the goalkeepers have been getting from LBC Goalkeeper Coach Dave McFarland. 

"All four of the goalkeepers have improved so much from the beginning of the season," Ardt said. "Coach McFarland works hard with them and it's fitting that Stefan steps up and makes a huge save in the penalty kick round for us."

Ardt was also very complimentary of his players as many of them stepped up and played some of the best games of their collegiate career.

"Josiah Groff and Branden Peiffer played very well in the second half and Ben Noel played simple and quick for us in the midfield," Ardt said. "Nate Grimley played physical and Bradley Wilcox created a lot of problems with his speed."

For the game, Cairn outshot the Chargers, 15-11, while LBC held a 4-3 edge in corner kicks. The Chargers have defeated Cairn (or formally Philadelphia Biblical) for all three of their East Region titles (2009, 2011 and 2013), yet have  only scored one regulation goal in those victories. LBC won 1-0 on a goal by Lawrence Lartey in 2009, but the two teams also played a scoreless 110 minutes in 2011 before the Chargers won in PKs.

LBC still has some regular season loose ends to tie up as they will wrap-up NEAC play on Sunday against SUNY Cobleskill and play their final regular season game on Monday at Rosemont. Both games are make-ups from earlier in the year as the Chargers will play a very rare Sunday home game against the Fighting Tigers that will begin at 1:30 p.m.


Notes:
-The NCCAA National Tournament will be held from November 13-16 in Kissimmee, Fla.

-The Chargers finished 5th in 2009 and 6th in 2011 at the National Tournament.

-LBC had three players named to the NCCAA East Region First Team: Brandon Wilcox, Josiah Groff and Brandon Peiffer.