By Evan Weber
Sports Editor
On Nov. 6 at 7 p.m., the Franciscan University men’s soccer team defeated the Allegheny College Gators in a strong 4-2 victory to advance to the PAC championships. The Barons have truly become a soccer dynasty since this marks the third time they have reached the finals in four years.
The Barons came into this game following an incredible season. They sat first in the conference with an undefeated 7-0-3 record. Their top seeding allowed them to bypass the quarter final round and advance straight to the semi finals.
Junior forward Lucas Cross has been a force of nature all season, tallying up 20 goals in 17 games. He leads the entire PAC in total goals and averages more than a goal per game.
As the whistle blew and kickoff started, the Barons immediately pushed the tempo and got on the board early. Senior midfielder Ryan Miller kicked a long pass and connected with Cross who used a header to score the first goal.
But Cross wasn’t done yet. He weaved through multiple defenders and found the back of the net for his second goal of the night. Barons led 2-0, and the game had barely even started.
In a semifinal game, the stakes are high and pressure can get to a lot of players. But Cross cemented his legacy with an incredible third goal, this time assisted by junior forward Julien Freeman. The Barons ended the first half up 3-0.
While the Franciscan offense was playing at an elite level, it’s also important to highlight the lockdown defense. Allegheny actually had more shot attempts than Franciscan, but the defense shut down any goals from happening in the first half.
Five minutes into the second half, the Barons scored their fourth and final goal of the night, this one from senior defender Joseph St. George with an assist from junior midfielder Augustine Rubino.
While the Gators would go on to score two goals of their own, the winner of the game was never in doubt. The Barons enjoyed tremendous regular season success, and they have carried that success into the playoffs.
The Barons will play Grove City College Saturday, Nov. 9 at 7 p.m. The game will be at home, so please come out and support your Barons for this historic championship game!