Sparkill, N.Y. - The top seeded St. Thomas Aquinas College Men's Soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw with the #4 seeded University of the District of Columbia through 110 minutes, but ultimately fell to the Firebirds in a four round penalty kick shootout (4-2) on Saturday in the East Coast Conference Men's Soccer Championship Semifinals at Spartan Field in Rockland County.

The victory gives UDC (6-6-7) its second finals appearance in program history (2017), as they will take on #3 Queens College next Saturday (November 11) in Flushing, New York. Meanwhile, STAC closes their outstanding 2023 season, going 10-2-5.

A defensive battle between the sides throughout, saw the teams only tally one goal apiece in regulation, with Axel Gamez scoring his 12th goal of the season for the Firebirds midway through the first half and Andres Gonzalez-Rios netting his third goal of the campaign for the Spartans in the second half.

In goal, both Calle Olle Petter Gunnarsson (T, 10-0-5) and Sergio Becerra (T, 5-2-5) were outstanding for their respective squads, stopping five of six shots apiece.

How it Happened - Regulation & Extra Time

• 26th Minute: A Spartans turnover was sent in the air by the Firebirds to the middle of the field, where a STAC and UDC player tried to head the ball down. However, it would fall to the foot of Axel Gamez who bent a soaring blast around several bodies and just below the crossbar, beating Calle Olle Petter Gunnarsson to give the visitors a 1-0 lead.
• 66th Minute: STAC's Andres Gonzalez-Rios tied things at 1-1 on a free kick which angled just inside the left post, past a diving Sergio Becerra.
• 103rd Minute (OT2): The best chance by either side to break the stalemate came courtesy of the Spartans in the second overtime period, when ECC Offensive Player of the Year Kevon Evans received a soft feed from teammate Alejandro Zuniga. Evans danced around several UDC defenders and ripped a shot on frame from the top of the box, which beat Becerra but hit the left post behind him and skipped out of play at the near sideline.

How it Happened - Penalty Kick Shootout

• Axel Gamez (UDC) - Goal: Shot top left corner of net, inside of the left post
• Yahir Hernandez (STAC) - Goal: Shot middle of net, inside of the left post
• Joseluis Avalos (UDC) - Goal: Under the crossbar, breaking the goal line
• Kevon Evans (STAC) - No Goal: Saved by Becerra, diving to the left post
• Ivan Mesa-Baez (UDC) - Goal: Shot top right corner of net, inside of the right post
• Andres Gonzalez-Rios (STAC) - Goal: Shot lower left corner of net, inside of the left post
• Vasco Irazola (UDC) - Goal: Shot middle of net, beating Gunnarsson
• Jalen Moni (STAC) - No Goal: Shot high, over the top of the net

Inside the Box Score

• St. Thomas Aquinas outshot UDC 17-8 and earned an 10-6 advantage in corner kicks over the Firebirds.
• Kevon Evans registered a game-high six shots in the match, with teammate Alejandro Zuniga recordiing four shots and Andres Gonzalez-Rios booting three shots.
• In a feisty postseason affair, with a trip to the finals on the line, the teams combined for 48 fouls (28-20 UDC) and nine yellow cards (6-3 UDC).