HOOVER, ALABAMA – Don’t call the Charlotte 49ers Cinderella anymore.

 

That was one of the main messages from the team following its defeat of Creighton on penalties in Friday’s NCAA Men’s College Cup semifinal here. Charlotte advanced on penalties 4-1 after playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer with the Blue Jays.

 

When asked by a reporter if the team embraced the label, Gunn said he was insulted by the term and added that writers should show more imagination in their work. Defender Charles Rodriguez said the term was disrespectful to his team and places a chip on its collective shoulder. 

 

It might help to remind the squad that Cinderella did win in the end, but the point that the group has played at a consistently high level over the past few seasons is well taken. While a number of other teams, as Gunn mentioned, could also be here, it’s the 49ers who keep doing the business on the field, and now they are one win away from the biggest college soccer prize of all.

 

It didn’t look like this would be the outcome for much of the match. Creighton (21-2-1) was very strong in the midfield, especially for the first 45 minutes, and Charlotte (16-4-4) had little chance to maintain possession when it had the ball. The Blue Jays also created more chances for the game’s first 60 minutes or so, while Creighton goalkeeper Brian Holt had little to do.

 

But the Blue Jays never scored and as the 2nd half wore on, Charlotte was definitely rising in stature. They went from even to having the upper hand as regulation wound down and overtime began, but a good save from Holt ensured the match went to penalties.

 

In post-match spot kicks, Gunn called on Gavin Dawson to replace Klay Davis between the sticks, and just as he had done in a quarterfinal win over Connecticut, Dawson came up with a big save to key his team’s win.

 

Charlotte coach Jeremy Gunn commented on how his team held on during Creighton’s period of ascendance, but grew in confidence and effectiveness as the match went on.

 

“We needed two holding midfielders to stop them from getting through too easily, but then we really needed two strikers because the only outlet we had was when we played positive balls forward,” Gunn said. “Every time we tried to play good, smart soccer, they were all over us.”

 

With their 19th shutout of the season, Creighton breaks an NCAA season record for lowest goals against average at 0.20 (Brian Holt also sets the individual record at 0.21 in goal), but will find little consolation in this as it heads home to Omaha without the opportunity to play in the championship match.

 

Creighton created the game’s first good chance about 10 minutes in when Jose Gomez was fouled 2 5 yards out. Bruno Castro hit the free kick well and forced Charlotte goalkeeper Klay Davis into a sharp save. Tyler Gibson had a half chance for Charlotte a minute later, but his effort rolled tamely to Creighton goalkeeper Brian Holt.

 

Creighton had a sequence that produced three efforts on goal, but none which went in, in the23rd minute. Jose Gomez took a good pass from Bruno Castro in the area and hit a shot that was blocked by Charlotte defender Thomas Allen. Gomez got the ball back moments later and hit a chip that struck the union of the crossbar and upright. Ethan Finlay then latched onto the clearance and hit a shot that went wide of net, and Charlotte dodged the bullet.

 

Charlotte’s Jennings Rex went down in the area on an individual effort at 30 minutes, but nothing was given. On the other end, a Creighton corner by Bruno Castro found the head of Andrew Ribeiro, whose header forced Davis to tip the ball over the crossbar. The resulting corner again forced Davis into action as he dove to smother the ball in the 6-yard box, and the match went to the break scoreless.

 

In the 2nd half, Creighton’s Ethan Finlay had a decent chance in the opening minute but sent his shot from a long pass well wide of goal. Finlay made a good run onto a throw-in at 57 minutes but his shot was blocked at close range by Davis.

 

In the 60th minute another Creighton corner brought another near miss, as Finlay’s header smacked off the crossbar with the goalkeeper beaten.

 

Good work by Charlotte’s Donnie Smith with 5 minutes remaining gave the 49ers their best chance of the 2nd half. His run down the left beat two players and then he put in a good cross, but Giuseppe Gentile’s finish was poor. Tyler Gibson then had a well-struck shot that Creighton’s Jace Peters made a vital block of in the area. A follow up effort from Anthony Perez was blocked by Andrew Duran.

 

Regulation ended scoreless. Creighton had been better for much of the game, but it was Charlotte who looked most dangerous at the end.

 

In the overtime, Giuseppe Gentile made a good run into the penalty area, but Jace Peters responded with an inch-perfect tackle to clear the danger.

Donnie Smith made a weaving run down the left late in the 1st OT period and let go with a shot from a tight angle that Creighton’s Holt showed quick reflexes to push away.

 

In the 2nd OT, a good cross from the left by the Blue Jays put Ethan Finlay in prime scoring position, but Charles Rodriguez of the 49ers made a vital defensive intervention.

 

Charlotte’s Smith made a surging run through the middle and was fouled by Jake Brown to set up a dangerous free kick. The 49ers tried a deft chip but the play was ruled offside, and the teams ended 110 minutes of play even at 0-0, sending the match to penalty kicks.

 

Gavin Dawson is the designated PK goalkeeper for the 49ers, despite playing all of 2 minutes in open play this season.

 

 

Charlotte’s Tyler Gibson scored.

Creighton’s Bruno Castro scored.

Charlotte’s Donnie Smith scored despite Holt reaching it.

Creighton’s Kris Clark had his shot saved by Dawson.

Charlotte’s Charles Rodriguez scored.

Creighton’s Ethan Finlay hit his shot over the bar.

Charlotte’s Isaac Cowles scored, and Charlotte advances.

 

 

GK: Klay Davis

D: Aaron Weldon, Isaac Cowles, Charles Rodriguez, Thomas Allen

M: Owen Darby, Aidan Kirkbride, Evan James, Robby Thomas

F: Tyler Gibson, Giuseppe Gentile

Subs: Jennings Rex, T.J. Beaulieu, Donni e Smith, Anthony Perez, Isaac Caughran, Gavin Dawson

GK: Brian Holt

D: Tyler Polak, Eric Miller, Andrew Duran, Jace Peters

M: Andrew Ribeiro, Greg Jordan, Jose Gomez, Bruno Castro

F: Ethan Finlay, Dion Acoff

Subs: Jose Ribas, Kris Clark, Liam Kelly, Jake Brown, Brent Kallman