SALISBURY, Md. – The Salisbury University men's soccer team pulled off a thrilling 5-4 penalty-kick triumph to claim the 2026 Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference Championship after drawing 0-0 with the University of Mary Washington Eagles on Friday morning at the Gerry DiBartolo Sea Gull Soccer Complex.
Liam Pierce buried the final PK to seal the deal for SU.
The Sea Gulls (13-2-4) earned the first shot in the third minute from
Dale Gordon, which Eagles (10-5-3) keeper Johnathan Irani grabbed along the goal line.
David Brunetti put on a second shot on frame in the final minutes of the half that was sent away by Irani.
UMW's first look of the contest came from Andrew Brittain in the 47th minute, which was rejected by
Clif Nehman.
Martin Parrish had a pair of free kicks turned aside in the following moments, then
Conor Moran and
Noah Blankensop were saved before the second half ended, forcing an overtime period.
Blankensop missed a bicycle kick in the first overtime, and Gordon had a free kick from just outside the box blocked, leading to a second overtime session.
SU kept control of the extra time, headlined by Brunetti, who had a header shielded along the goal line before time ran out, leading to a penalty kick shootout.
Brunetti and
Michelangelo Parravano knocked in SU's first two kicks, then Caleb Parry of Mary Washington hit the crossbar to give the Sea Gulls an opening.
Tanner Calzado, Blankensop and Pierce converted to lift Salisbury over UMW.
GAME NOTES
The Sea Gulls await to see if they will be selected to participate in the NCAA Tournament. The selection show will air on ncaa.com at 11 a.m. on Monday.
Salisbury University is a proud member of NCAA Division III with primary membership in the Coast-to-Coast Athletic Conference, along with affiliate membership in the New Jersey Athletic Conference (football, men's & women's swimming), Coastal Lacrosse Conference (men's lacrosse), State University of New York Athletic Conference (field hockey), and Colonial Women's Golf Conference (women's golf). With over 500 student-athletes in 23 varsity sports, SU is recognized as one of the nation's most competitive intercollegiate athletics programs regardless of division, featuring dedicated coaches and staff that foster excellence on and off the field. The Sea Gulls have won a combined 23 team national championships, 26 individual national championships, and 211 conference championships, and have produced 54 Academic All-Americans.
To Make Tomorrow Yours at Salisbury University, and learn more about Sea Gull Athletics' tradition of excellence, visit
SUSeaGulls.com or follow on social media @SUSeaGulls.
