NC Wesleyan wins 2008 USA South Tournament Championship

Rocky Mount, NC - For just the second time in program history, the Battling Bishops of North Carolina Wesleyan College are USA South Tournament Champions!  The 2nd-seeded Bishops downed top-seeded Christopher Newport by a 2-1 score on Saturday afternoon at Scalf Field, earning the league's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. Freshman Stefan Hauksson was named Most Valuable Player after scoring the eventual game-winning goal late in the second half. Hauksson finished with two goals and an assist over two games in the tournament.

Wesleyan got on the board first on a score by Arkadiusz Trochowski in the 15th minute on an assist by Hauksson.  Trochowski blasted home the one-timer from roughly 10 yards out.  The Bishops took their 1-0 lead into the break.

In the second half, CNU created multiple scoring opportunities, including two shots off the post.  The Captains out-shot NCWC 13-7 in the half, but Hauksson capitalized with a goal at the 77:33 mark for a
2-0 advantage. Christopher Helms was credited with an assist on the play.

CNU did not go down without a fight over the final 12 minutes.  The Captains cut the lead in half with a Jimmy Hash score from 20 yards out with seven minutes remaining.  The Bishops, however, limited CNU's chances over the final five to secure the 2-1 final.

The Captains held a slim 15-13 advantage in shots for the game, as well as an 11-2 advantage in corner kicks. CNU keeper Matt Tengs finished with four saves, while NCWC keeper Alberto Faisca tallied three saves en route to All-Tournament honors.

Other Bishops on the All-Tournament team included Danny Persson (two goals versus Methodist on Friday), Helms (one goal, three assists in tourney), and defender Gudmundur Palsson.  CNU's honorees included midfielders Brian Tweed (one goal, one assist in tourney) and Jimmy Hash (one goal, two assists in tourney), as well as defenders Kevin Greenberg and Bryan Davis.

NC Wesleyan (15-3-1) will now await its draw in the NCAA Tournament. This is the Bishops' seventh appearance in the national tourney, and the fourth in the last five years.
 

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