Fort Lewis tops Lincoln Memorial in NCAA Men’s Soccer Semifinals

Pensacola, FL -- Fort Lewis senior forward John Cunliffe scored two goals in the last eight minutes to lift the Skyhawks over Lincoln Memorial with a 4-2 second half comeback win Thursday in the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Semifinal.

Fort Lewis, 21-1-1, will face Dowling College on Saturday for the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer National Championship. Cunliffe buried a penalty kick with eight minutes left to give Fort Lewis the lead. He weaved his way across the edge of the penalty area to seal the win, netting his 30th of the season.

A pair of second-half goals by Lincoln Memorial striker Leandro Pereira lifted the Railsplitters to lead 2-1 with 30 minutes left in the game. Pereira flicked a header past Skyhawks goalkeeper Tom Donley in the 63rd minute, as the Railsplitters overcame a 1-0 halftime deficit.

Both teams sat back and played it safe in the first half, with Lincoln Memorial playing the ball between their own defenders in the opening minute before springing forward.

But, the Skyhawks earned a free kick and took the lead in the 42nd minute.

Ryan Kerr hit an inswinging pass into the box from 35 yards out, which was headed by Cliff Wilmes to defender Chase Mikkelsen, who headed past goalkeeper Brent Cole.

Fort Lewis had a 13-9 edge in shots. Cole had six saves for Lincoln Memorial, while Tom Donley had three saves for the Durango, Colo.-based Skyhawks.

The Railsplitters began launching long passes in the second half. Goalie Tom Donley saved a flicked header on a corner kick early in the second half, but the Railsplitters tied the game in the 49th minute. Pereira gathered the ball outside the penalty area and chipped a shot over Donley.

The teams kept conservative play and swapped aggressive fouls for a 10-minute spell, but a free kick from Felipe Nogueira found Pereira unmarked and he stooped and flicked past Donley.

David Barden fired over the crossbar when he connected on a Skyhawks corner kick, and the Railsplitters defense fought to contain Cunliffe.

Ben Gantenbein swerved in an improbable free kick from an acute angle to tie the game 2-2 with 18 minutes left. The shot squeaked in at the near post - sending Gantenbein on a 40-yard run and sliding celebration with the Skyhawks bench.

Cunliffe threatened late as Fort Lewis piled forward. But the pressure paid off when the Railspltters were whistled for a penalty kick. Cole guessed correctly, but Cunliffe squeaked the ball past him eight minutes left.