Men’s College Soccer: Neumann, Rowan hosting conference finals, two unbeatens fall in penalties

Neumann men’s soccer will cap their time in the Atlantic East with a chance to win the conference tournament for the third straight year and advance to the NCAA Tournament.

The top-seeded Knights (12-3-3) beat Gwynned Mercy 3-0 in a semifinal match played at home on Tuesday. Jordan Illian scored his 12th of the season from the penalty spot after Zion Atta-Krah’s opener right before halftime and Victor John added a third assisted by Illian in the 83rd minute.

Neumann will take on 2024 finalist Marymount in Saturday’s final. Marymount last captured the crown in 2022 with a penalty shootout win over Neumann after finding an 88th minute equalizer. Neumann has been in four straight America East finals and is aiming to go out as conference champions for the fourth time (2024, 2023 and 2018) ahead of joining the Mid-Atlantic Conference in 2026.

Also hosting a conference final on Saturday is Rowan, which beat Stockton 1-0 on the road on a 60th minute goal from Christian McGillen and got a huge favor from TCNJ knocking off top seed Montclair State behind four goals from Chris Meder (Marlton, N.J.) in a surprising 4-1 win.

Messiah is hosting third seed Stevenson in the MAC Commonwealth men’s final on Saturday afternoon at 1:30 p.m.The Falcons beat Hood 3-0 in Wednesday’s semifinal. It was the 7th straight win for a Messiah team that opened the season 0-5.

Dickinson is in line to host Sunday’s Centennial Conference championship if they’re able to get by Muhlenberg in Friday’s semifinal. Muhlenberg knocked out unbeaten Haverford College in a penalty shootout after the teams tied 1-1. Gettysburg hosts Johns Hopkins in the other semifinal.

LVC got a hat trick from star forward Nathan Prex to beat FDU-Florham 6-3 and advance to Saturday’s final at Stevens, a team they beat for the first time since joining the MAC Freedom.

Penn State Harrisburg will host the United East men’s final on Saturday against Penn College.

Unbeaten Scranton conceded a goal for just the second time all season to Drew and lost a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw to see their hopes of a Landmark Conference championship become a missed opportunity. Drew will visit Catholic for the Centennial Conference final on Sunday.

Men’s College Soccer Schedule

Friday, November 7
Centennial Semifinal: Gettysburg vs Johns Hopkins, 5 p.m.
Centennial Semifinal: Dickinson vs Muhlenberg, 5 p.m.

Saturday, November 8
United East Final: Penn State Harrisburg vs Penn College, 1 p.m.
Atlantic East Final: Neumann vs Marymount, 1 p.m.
MAC Commonwealth Final: Messiah vs Stevenson, 1:30 p.m.
MAC Freedom: LVC at Stevens, 6 p.m.
NJAC Final: Rowan vs TCNJ, 7:30 p.m.

Sunday, November 9
Centennial Conference Final, Time/Date TBA