Ming And Donawa Reach ACC Semi-Finals
Bermudian footballers Sachiel Ming and Jace Donawa have both advanced to the Atlantic Coast Conference [ACC] Men’s Soccer Championship semi-finals after their respective universities secured dramatic extra-time victories on Sunday [November 8].
Ming started for Syracuse University in their 2-1 victory over Stanford University in California, playing 88 minutes and recording one shot on target.
After a goalless first half, Jordan Grey gave Syracuse the lead in the 86th minute, only for Stanford’s Jack Pymm to equalise less than a minute later. With the match heading into extra time, Grey scored his second goal in the 103rd minute to secure the victory.
The result made 13th-seeded Syracuse the lowest-seeded team in ACC tournament history to reach the semi-finals.
Meanwhile, fellow Bermudian Jace Donawa also enjoyed success as the University of North Carolina defeated third-ranked Clemson University 3-2 in double overtime in South Carolina.
Donawa came off the bench and played 20 minutes as North Carolina secured their place in the final four.
Nicolas Loebus opened the scoring in the 20th minute before Bertil Rygaard Hansen doubled North Carolina’s advantage nine minutes later.
Clemson fought back through goals from Martin Bakken and Ransford Gyan to level the match at 2-2, forcing extra time.
Luca Nikolai converted a penalty in the 106th minute to seal the victory for North Carolina, extending their unbeaten run to ten matches.
Both Bermudians will now compete in separate ACC semi-finals on Thursday [November 12] in Cary, North Carolina.
Ming’s Syracuse will face top-seeded Southern Methodist University [SMU], while Donawa’s North Carolina will take on NC State, with both teams seeking places in Sunday’s championship final.
