The Tribe lost 2-1 in the quarterfinals of the CAA Tournament to Georgia State Thursday, most likely ending its 2011 campaign.
Within the first 15 minutes, the Panthers (13-6-1, 6-5 CAA) took three corner kicks and the Tribe (10-9, 7-4 CAA) took two shots, but neither team was able to connect. In the 34th minute, freshman forward Josh West beat a Panther defender and fired off a shot from 23 yards out, but it went wide of the goal and out of bounds.
The scoreless first half gave way to more action almost immediately in the second, when senior midfielder Nicolas Abrigo scored the first goal of the game on a penalty kick. The penalty came when sophomore defender Roshan Patel was tripped from behind as he was gearing up for a shot five yards from the goal, resulting in a foul called on Georgia State and the penalty kick. Abrigo’s powerful shot was slotted past the goalkeeper and found the net. The goal increased his season goal count to nine, two of which were scored on penalty kicks.
The Panthers quickly roared back just 15 minutes later with a goal of their own. Panther midfielder Stephen McGill scored unassisted from 25 yards out, placing the ball in the top left corner right past Tribe senior goalkeeper Colin Smolinksy’s outstretched hands, tying up the contest at one in the 65th minute.
Georgia State then took the lead late in the 77th minute, as Panthers forward Evan Scott scored off a corner kick with a header inside the right post. Down a goal late in an elimination game, head coach Chris Norris sent more men forward. The Tribe would go on to earn corner kicks in the 81st and 82nd minutes, but nothing came of them and the College failed to come up with a game-tying goal.
The game was rife with fouls. Georgia State had eight in the first half and eight in the second, including the one leading to the penalty kick off which the Tribe scored its only goal. The College was called for three in the first half and seven in the second. The end of the game was particularly physical as Smolinsky picked up a yellow card in the 88th minute and freshman defender Michael Tieman received another in the 89th.
The Tribe will now have to await word on whether its season is over or it gets an at-large bid to the NCAA tournament. The selection show will air on NCAA.com at 4:30 p.m. Monday.
