• Box Score

CALIFORNIA (Nov. 8) – Despite trailing twice in the game and playing the final minutes a man down, the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team captured the first Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) Championship in program history after the Vulcans registered a 3-2 win over No. 5 Millersville University on Saturday.

Cal U, who has won four of its last five games, moves to 13-7-2 overall and clinched the PSAC automatic berth in the NCAA Tournament. The Vulcans previously appeared in the 2004 NCAA Tournament and the 13 wins this season ranks as the second-highest total in school history. Meanwhile, Millersville drops to 16-3 after entering the tournament as the No. 1 seed in the PSAC Eastern Division.

Over the last week, Cal U went from fourth place in the conference standings and out of the conference tournament to earning the No. 1 seed in the Western Division. The Vulcans then posted a pair of victories over Top 25 teams in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA)/adidas national poll.

Junior midfielder Justin Taucher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) scored the eventual game-winning goal (his first goal of the season) at the 78:09-mark after intercepting a Marauder clear attempt in their own end of the field.

After a red card was given to junior forward Mike Luecke in the 81st minute, Cal U was forced to play the remainder of the game a man down. Millersville fired three shots from within six yards over the final minutes, but sophomore goalkeeper Derek Yobbi preserved the victory.

Yobbi was named PSAC Tournament Most Valuable Player after making five saves on 21 shot attempts by the Marauders in the championship game.

Millersville took a 1-0 lead in the game's fourth minute with a goal by senior forward Sean McLaughlin, the team's leading scorer with 13 goals and 33 points, off an assist from sophomore Kyle Loughlin. Cal U responded six minutes later when senior Jeremy Blymiller (Erie, Pa./McDowell) evened the contest at the 10:37-mark with his eighth goal of the season (unassisted).

After a 1-1 tie at halftime, the Marauders claimed a 2-1 advantage in the 57th minute with a goal by freshman Pat Buffuto. However, the Vulcans countered with a goal by senior Nick Helbig off an assist from Sede Wilson at the 70:56-mark. Taucher then followed with the go-ahead 3-2 goal less than eight minutes later.

Millersville held a 21-18 advantage in shots, while Cal U managed a 6-3 edge in corner kicks. Taucher led the Vulcans with four shots, while Helbig added three shot attempts.

Cal U, who has qualified for the PSAC Tournament six times in the last nine years, last played in the 2005 championship game when it lost a 2-1 heartbreaker at home.

The Vulcans' schedule in the NCAA Tournament will be announced on Monday, Nov. 10, with a selection show at 7 p.m. on the NCAA web site.