November 24, 2024

No. 8 MHU falls to No. 1 Limestone in NCAA DII Men's Soccer Second Round

Peter Plougmand scores first career NCAA goal, 25th of season, in season finale.

Mars Hill

10-4-5, 6-2-3

Limestone

15-1-3, 9-1-1

Final

Mars Hill (10-4-5, 6-2-3)

Limestone (15-1-3, 9-1-1)

Mars Hill

10-4-5, 6-2-3

Limestone

15-1-3, 9-1-1

Final

Mars Hill (10-4-5, 6-2-3)

Limestone (15-1-3, 9-1-1)

MARS HILL, N.C. - The eighth-seeded Mars Hill Lions' men's soccer team (10-4-5) was defeated by the one-seed Limestone Saints (15-1-3) by a score of 4-1 in the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship Second Round, hosted by Mars Hill University Sunday afternoon.

Mortiz Guettel opened the scoring in the sixth minute, firing a shot from 20 yards out through a mass of bodies that eluded Mars Hill keeper Logan Cassel. Late in the half, in the 42nd minute, Shunsuke Nakamoto scored his fourth of the year, sliding a ball against the grain and tucking it inside the far post to put the Saints up by two.

Less than a minute later, Peter Plougmand buried his 25th of the season, putting home the volley by Cam Watts with 2:12 remaining in the half.

Early in the second, Guettel picked up his second assist of the game, as Stefan Roeb, on the bouncing ball, smashed it past Cassel inside the near post for his second of the season.

Mark Radoki added the final insurance marker in the 81st minute as Falk Jorch was credited with the assist.

Limestone outshot Mars Hill 23-9 throughout the contest. Cassel stopped four shots while Nikolaj Bertelsen made one save for his 15th win of the season.

The Saints will go on to face the No. 4 seed, Clayton State on Sunday, December 1.

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Mars Hill ends the season with a 10-4-5 record. They reached the South Atlantic Conference Championship Semifinals for the first time since 2021 and the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2012. The Lions hosted for the first time since 2011. Mars Hill advanced to the second round of the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2011, defeating the No. 9 seed, and Conference Carolinas Champions, Francis Marion Patriots 0-0 (5-3 PK) on Friday, November 22.

Plougmand was named SAC Offensive Player of the Year as well as a D2CCA Academic All-District selection, as of this post. He was named the league's first-ever four-time Offensive Player of the Week and leads the nation in goals (25) and points (56), among several other categories. He was one goal and one point shy of tying the MHU school records for most goals and points in a season (26G/57P - Andy Thompson, 1998).

Sam Bayly was named to the All-SAC First Team with five goals and four assists for 14 points in his lone season with Mars Hill. Ben Harvey was an All-SAC Second Team selection while the trio of Bruno Fornes, Adrian Faus, and Nolan McMillen were named to the All-SAC Third Team.

Mars Hill went 6-1-3 at home this year while head coach Gregg Munn racked up his second 10+ win season of his tenure with the Lions.