Men's Soccer | 11/30/2018 4:28:00 PM

PITTSBURGH, Pa.—Pick your cliche. One more game for "all the marbles", "the whole enchilada", "the crown", "the whole kit and kaboodle". The 20^th-ranked Barry University Buccaneers are set to play the 23^rd-ranked West Chester Rams on Saturday, Dec. 1 at Pittsburgh's Highmark Stadium in the NCAA Division II championship as part of the D-II Fall Sports Festival. Kick off is set for 12:00 noon.

INSIDE THE MATCHUP
Records: #20 Barry (15-4-3); #23 West Chester (16-2-5)
All-Time Series: First-ever meeting

Twentieth-ranked Barry made its way to the championship by upsetting tenth-ranked Spring Hill in the south region semifinal, 4-1, thanks to goals by Lorenzo Cerrai, Stephen Kosmala, Flavio Colasanti and Francisco Aguirre. They then advanced to the national quarterfinal over No. 24 ranked Lynn University in the South Region Championship. The Buccaneers and Fighting Knights were scoreless at the end of regulation and both overtime periods, before Barry advanced past Lynn 4-2 in penalty kicks. In the Quarterfinal against eighth-ranked Lander, the Buccaneers held off the Bearcats 2-1, as Lucas Russo and Luca de Biase scored the goals, to earn their third trip to the final four in team history. In the semifinal against Fort Hays State, the top-rated scoring team in the country, the Bucs were forced again to go the penalty kick route to advance. But Marco Sordi roved his worth in the goal, stopping three shots in the shootout, including an incredible kick save, to lift the Bucs to to the title game. Ivan Barriga was the last of five Buccaneers to convert their kicks.  

The road for West Chester this year was no easier, needing to go through two No. 1 seeds to get here. After defeating Notre Dame (OH) 2-1 in their first game, the Golden Rams ended Charleston (WV)'s title defense in a 1-0 shutout. They continued their defensive dominance, shutting out Adelphi 2-0 in the Quarterfinal. The Golden Rams used an overtime tally from Jason Pixley to defeat the Broncos of Cal Poly Pomona on Thursday afternoon, 2-1. The Broncos opened the scoring in the 56th minute to jump out to an early 1-0 lead. But it did not last very long as Eric Greer netted his first collegiate goal just five minutes later, after the ball was tipped out to the top of the box. Neither team could score until Pixley's goal in overtime. 

For the Buccaneers, it is the second trip to the championship game. They fell 2-1 in four overtimes to Cal State-Dominguez Hills in 2000. For the Rams, it is their first trip to the finals.

Ticket Prices

To purchase tickets, visit https://www.visitpittsburgh.com/pittsburgh-hosts-ncaa/2018-ncaa-championships/

Spectator Information
Parking: Spectators will have multiple paid parking lot options beside Highmark Stadium and 0.2 miles away in Station Square.
Additional parking is available at the following locations in Station Square for standard hourly rates:
• Parking garage (across from Sheraton Hotel)
• East lot (adjacent to the Smithfield Street Bridge)
• West Carson/River Lot (adjacent to the Gateway Clipper Fleet Dock Ramp). Note: This lot is CASH ONLY.

Entrance: Spectators will be directed to the front entrance of Highmark Stadium (end of the stadium where the main building facility is located).

Facility Regulations - Highmark Stadium adheres to a 'Clear Bag Policy.' • Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12." (Official Hounds team logo clear plastic tote bags are available through the club store) • One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar). • Small clutch bags or small purse, approximately the size of a hand 4.5" x 6.5", with or without a handle or strap can be taken into the stadium with one of the clear plastic bag options. • Seat cushions and seat cushions with backs will be permitted. No larger than 16" wide with no arms or pockets allowed. • An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection at a gate designated for this purpose. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, and cinch bags, luggage of any kind, computer bags and camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size.