GEORGETOWN, TX - A windy day in Georgetown, Texas, set the stage for a highly anticipated match-up between the Berry Vikings and the hosts of the SAA Conference Championship, the Southwestern Pirates, where the Vikings outlasted the hosts by a final score of 2-1.
With the heavy winds playing a tremendous factor in the play style of the Pirates, the Vikings honed in on their defensive specialties and fought off every single attack thrown at them by the pirates.
Junior Cooper Cherry had a spectacular display throughout the entirety of the match as he was making full stretch saves and leaping over opponents to catch the ball. He played a huge part in the success of the Vikings
The first half ended with neither team having an answer for the opposition, which led both teams back to the drawing board before starting the second half.
The second half started with the Pirates striking first at minute 51 with Alessandro Sosa just beating Cherry putting the Pirates up 1-0.
The minutes started to churn by, and the Vikings started to grow desperate to make something happen. They tried several times with no success, until in minute 83, Junior Adoffo El Bey crossed the ball into the head of Senior, Max Albertson who would head the ball into the crossbar and over the line to equalize this competitive game.
The remaining minutes of the match was a matter was who was going to make the last push to secure victory to avoid overtime. The game seemed like it would need more time for the winner to be decided, until 6 seconds were left on the timer, and freshman, Timothy Ratokhin was brought down in the penalty box, granting a chance for the Vikings to secure the SAA Conference Championship on a penalty kick.
At the critical juncture, it was Max Albertson who was chosen to determine the fate of the Vikings, and with the upmost confidence, he sealed the game with his conversion on the penalty kick, leading to the Vikings bench to erupt in excitement and celebration.
The final 6 seconds of the match was played out by a kickoff from the Pirates, and that was the game, with the Berry Vikings being crowned SAA Conference Champions!
Cooper Cherry earned a rightfully deserved SAA Tournament MVP award while Mitchell Register and Max Albertson both made the All-Tournament Team.
The Vikings will now be a part of the NCAA National Championship starting next week, as they await their opponent, which is to be announced in the selection show tomorrow morning at 11:30 AM.
