GLVC Soccer: Drury Panthers Will Face NKU Norse In Final. Youth Teams Free Admission!

#1 Drury Panthers – 3 (1st OT)
#5 Bellarmine Knights – 2
In a game whose tempo never faltered, but took the players and fans on wild mood swings, the #3 nationally ranked Drury Panthers justified the confidence of their Coach, and the team itself, in fighting off an extremely effective Bellarmine Knights squad that pushed them to the edge.

Played at a rock-and-roll pace, the Knights commitment to battling for every ball and push the counter whenever possible, held Drury at bay until the 40th minute when jr Danny Collins found time and space to wait with his pass to the back post, anticipating Micah Whorton’s run and finish for the initial lead.

The Knights collected themselves and more importantly, came out in the 2nd half and shocked the Panthers when they were able to beat GLVC Defensive Player of the Year Stephen Conner only two minutes into the half on a breakaway. Of even greater significance was Jordan Beckles’ goal in the 66th minute that gave Bellarmine a 2-1 lead, scored when he was able to tap in a ball at the far post from ?

Drury was the aggressor for most of the game, holding a 21-9 advantage in shots and an even greater advantage in time of possession. Throwing fresh legs into the attack throughout the second half, it was junior transfer Ben Hamilton who accepted Micah Whorton’s simple touch pass that sent him into the box where his aggressive move and shot from just outside the six yard box slid under the keeper to the far side netting. That game-tying goal in the 84th minute didn’t stop the Knights but the momentum change was permanent.

The game winner, pictured below, was scored in familiar fashion as Steve Wilczewski’s run onto running mate Micah Whorton’s thru ball was a foot race against the keeper and defender won by the All-Conference forward. The finish was reliable and true as he slotted his shot to the far netting and sent the Panther’s to they game they have been anticipating all season.

The #2 Northern Kentucky Norse will play against the #1 Drury Panthers on Sunday at 12:00 pm in the GLVC Final.

Youth teams are invited to attend the game free of charge on Sunday. Come out and help set a new attendance record for game attendance at a Drury Panthers match on a beautiful early November afternoon. Come REPRESENT and cheer on the local squad!

Check out the Drury Panther’s write up which notes that the goal was Wilczewski’s 15th of the season – tying Whorton, whose first-half goal put the Panthers up 1-0 at the break – and 33rd of his career, second most in DU history. Whorton had two assists in the contest, setting a new single-season Drury mark with 14, one more than teammate Ben Taylor had last season. It was also Ben Hamilton’s first career goal with the Panther’s, setting up his former Glendale teammate’s OT heroics.

#3 Lewis Flyers – 0
#2 Northern Kentucky Norse – 1 (via PKs)
Lots of action, few opportunities although the Norse had the best of those. PKs were 4-2 advantage NKU. Offensive Player of the Year Steven Beattie’s was the lone miss as the keeper anticipated his shot low and to the left well, making the save.