Men's Soccer | 11/17/2002 5:43:00 PM

Box Score MIAMI SHORES, Fla. -- In their first NCAA tournament appearance, the 15th-ranked Central Arkansas Bears (16-1-2) upset the #1 Barry University Buccaneers (15-2-1) 2-1 in double overtime to claim the NCAA Division II South Regional Championship hosted by Barry University at Buccaneer Field earlier today.

The Buccaneers got on the board first when Thaigo Vasconcelos headed a goal inside the six off a Greg Jehs rebound at 33:55 to give the Bucs a 1-0 lead at the half. However, a second-half foul by Kevin Lamy inside the 18-yard box on Central Arkansas' Jason Bell set up a penalty kick opportunity and Dustin McNaughton converted to even the score 1-1 at 55:24.

At the end of regulation, the game remained in a tie sending it into sudden-victory overtime. Neither team was able to convert in the first overtime, but in the second overtime period Central Arkansas' Cameron Kersey slid a free ball behind the Buccaneer defenders for the game-winner.

"I was just thinking that I had to get behind everybody," Kersey said. "Somehow, I got behind the defense and slid it in."

Although the top-ranked Buccaneers fell by a final 2-1, it was not because of a lack of effort. Head coach Steve McCrath knew his team had played well, but they were unable to convert on several scoring opportunities.

"We controlled the game and played good soccer until it came to getting the job done offensively," McCrath said. "Central Arkansas make you think like a soccer player and if you are unwilling to do it, then you are going to lose."

Despite defeating the Buccaneers for the first time, Bears' head coach Joel Harrison felt the game could have been won by either team.

"I have to give Barry credit because they were all over us in the first 60 minutes," Harrison said. "They could have just have easily won the game because they had so many scoring opportunities. I was getting ready for a shootout, but we caught them just a little too far forward and we got a quick counter for the goal."

The Bears advance to play USC-Spartanburg, 1-0 winners over Queens, next week.

Barry concludes its season with a 15-2-1 overall record. Despite the season coming to an end, McCrath is happy for his team.

"I was proud of the guys and especially my seniors," McCrath said. "I think every one of them did what they needed to do. If we have that kind of leadership next year, then we will be in good shape."

Central Arkansas (16-1-2) vs. Barry (15-2-1)
Date: Nov 17, 2002 Attendance: 527
Weather: crisp

Goals by period 1 2 OT O2 Tot
-------------------------------------
Central Arkansas.... 0 1 0 1 - 2
Barry............... 1 0 0 0 - 1

SCORING SUMMARY:
1. 33:55 BUM Thiago Vasconcelos (1) (Greg Jehs;Avi Scabini) - header off rebound
2. 55:24 UCA Dustin McNaughton (Penalty kick)
3. 106:48 UCA Cameron Kersey (5) (unassisted)

Shots: Central Arkansas 8, Barry 19
Saves: Central Arkansas 8 (Adam Woznicki 7; TEAM 1), Barry 3 (Ron Goguen 3)