Soccer Teams Both Are Back in the CACC Tournament

Men's Soccer | 10/27/2017 12:00:00 AM

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Goldey-Beacom's men's and women's soccer teams not only are back in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament, but both begin their journey with home quarterfinal games.

The men's squad (13-4-1, 9-2-1 CACC) is the second seed, its highest since it was the two seed in 2001, and will host seventh-seeded Nyack (7-9-1, 5-7) on Monday at 2:00 pm at Nancy Churchman Sawin Field in Wilmington.

The women's team (11-4-2, 8-3-1) is the fourth seed and will host fifth-seeded Jefferson (9-8, 8-4) on Tuesday at 2:00 pm, also at Nancy Churchman Sawin Field.

The quarterfinal winners advance to championship weekend, which takes place on the campus of Georgian Court University in Lakewood, NJ. The semifinals are Friday, the men's final is Sunday at 10:00 am and the women's final is at 12:30 pm.

Tickets for all games are $6 for adults and $3 for children, senior citizens and students with a valid ID. Children under age 3 are admitted free.

Please note Georgian Court University has a NO PETS (except service dogs), NO SMOKING, NO GRILLS and NO ALCOHOL policy. Everyone's cooperation is greatly appreciated.

The men's team this season has seen great offensive play from junior midfielder Chahin Aghrim (Bonn, Germany), who has done it all with his playmaking and scoring ability. A first team all-league pick and CoSIDA Academic All District selection last year, Aghrim this season is first in the country with 13 assists, fifth with 0.72 assists per game and 11th with 31 points. He also is third in school history with 22 career assists, eighth with 15 goals and fifth with 52 points.

The Lightning as a team also have been putting up big numbers. The unit is first in the country with 55 goals, first with 151 points and third with 3.06 goals per game.

Another standout has been junior goalkeeper Suhail Bismilla (Johannesburg, South Africa), who has been a leader in every facet and helps control the Lightning's play on the field. The first team all-league pick last year is 25th in the country this season with six shutouts and 62nd with 61 saves. He also is first in school history with 11 shutouts and fourth with 192 saves.

The defense also has been exceptional, due largely to the play of seniors Declyn Brown (Glasgow, Scotland) and Cameron Wilkinson (Terrigal, Australia). They have paced a unit which has allowed just 19 goals this season, notched eight shutouts and recorded 11 games in which the squad did not permit more than one goal.

GBC earlier this season enjoyed a 10-game unbeaten streak (9-0-1) and a four-game shutout streak, both school records. The unit also has eight home victories this year (8-0) that is tied with the 2002 squad for the team best and the nine conference victories is a school record.

The women's side this season had a welcome addition in freshman forward Alanna Speaks (Wilmington, DE), who has impressed many with her incredible goal-scoring skills. She is 23rd in the country with 12 goals, 31st with 28 points, tied for fourth on the school's single-season list in goals and fifth overall in points.

Senior midfielder Amy Runciman (Luton, England) also continues to be a dominant presence with her playmaking and determination. The first team all-league and second team all-region pick in 2015 as well as second team All-CACC in 2016, Runciman this year is 79th in the country with eight goals and 87th with 20 points. She also is second in school history with 83 points, fourth with 27 goals and second with 29 assists.

Junior Cliona Crammond (Wicklow, Ireland) has been a major factor at midfield with her solid playmaking as she is 86th in the country with five assists, tied for seventh in school history with 17 goals, tied for ninth with 11 assists and 10th with 45 points. Senior Tanner Turner-Rush (Harrisburg, PA) leads a defense which has notched three shutouts and has not permitted more than one goal 10 times.

The women are hosting a quarterfinal game in back-to-back years for the first time, their eight league wins are tied for the team record and their seven home wins (7-1) are one short of a school record.

This also marks the first time since 2003 in which both the men's and women's teams will host its first conference tournament game in the same year. The men that season hosted a first-round contest in a six-team field and the women hosted a semifinal after getting a first-round bye.

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Players Mentioned

#9 Chahin Aghrim: M; 5' 8"; Junior

#1 Suhail Bismilla: GK; 6' 0"; Junior

#4 Declyn Brown: D; 6' 1"; Senior

#6 Cameron Wilkinson: D; 5' 11"; Senior

Players Mentioned

#9 Chahin Aghrim
: 5' 8"; Junior
: M

#1 Suhail Bismilla
: 6' 0"; Junior
: GK

#4 Declyn Brown
: 6' 1"; Senior
: D

#6 Cameron Wilkinson
: 5' 11"; Senior
: D