Aug. 27, 2006
WASHINGTON - Sal Caccavale (West Islip, N.Y./West Islip) buried a free kick into the back of the net with just 2:07 left in regulation to give the American University men's soccer team a 2-1 win over Georgetown and help the Eagles win the D.C. College Cup for the fourth time in the tournament's six-year history.
With the score tied at one goal a piece late in the second stanza, the referee whistled the Hoyas for a foul just outside of the box. Caccavale lined up the free kick and buried it in the top right to set off a wild celebration. The goal elicited feelings of deja vu for American fans, who two years ago watched Caccavale nail the game-winner over Georgetown on a free kick in overtime of the championship game of the 2004 D.C. College Cup.
Georgetown set the tension in the game by tying it on a goal in the 67th minute by Daniel Grasso. Grass calmly corralled a through-pass from Tim Convey to his feet and split two AU defenders inside the box, then fired a low shot to the far side that tucked itself inside the left post. Ironically, Grasso also scored in the 2004 D.C. College Cup championship game, setting up Caccavale's game-winner then, too.
American opened the scoring in the 27th minute of the first half when sophomore Justin Turco (Odenton, Md./Archbishop Spalding) put home a diving header off a cross from senior Garth Juckem (Tampa, Fla./Tampa Jesuit). It was Turco's second career goal and Juckem's second assist in as many games.
Junior goaltender Chris Sedlak (Valrico, Fla./Bloomingdale) shined in the nets for the Eagles, tying a career-high with nine saves.
Overall, American outshot the Hoyas, 17-15, and had six corner kicks to Georgetown's two.
All-Tournament Team:
George Washington: Greg McKay, Luke Wildy
Howard: Joel Senior, Michael Okoh
Georgetown: Tim Convey, Ricky Schramm, Daniel Grasso
American: Chris Sedlak, Nigel White, Garth Juckem, Larry Mark
MVP: Sal Caccavale, American
