Stags clinch SCIAC title with win at Whittier

The men's soccer team secured their 24th SCIAC championship on Saturday night with a 1-0 win at Whittier.  The Stags entered the game with a one point lead in the standings and retained that lead with the victory.  The team has won four consecutive SCIAC Tournament titles, but this title is their first regular season title since 2000.  CMS improved to 14-5-1 overall and 12-3-1 in SCIAC play.  Whittier dropped to 11-7-1 and 10-5-1.

The teams traded shots early before the Stags scored the only goal of the game at the 15:48 mark.  Ethan Hallberg fed a though ball to Michael Crowley who finished to the bottom right corner.  CMS held the Poets to only two shots on goal in the first half, both of which occurred in the first 25 minutes.  The Stag defense did not allow any shots in the final 20 minutes, but CMS looked to be in trouble when one of their players was sent off with a red card with just under an hour remaining in the game.  CMS only had to play a man down for three and a half minutes, however, as Whittier had a player receive a second yellow and was sent off with a red card.

The Stag defense was equally stalwart in the second half again allowing only two shots on goal and blocking three others.  Alex Choi made all four saves to earn the shutout win.

The win not only gave the Stags the SCIAC title, but it also made them the top seed for the SCIAC Tournament.  CMS will host fourth-seeded Chapman on Wednesday, November 6 at 7:00.  The teams met twice this season.  CMS won at home 3-2 (2OT) on September 18 and won at Chapman 3-0 on October 12.