Men's soccer team tops Daytona State to advance to Region 8 final

The Eastern Florida State College men's soccer team scored twice in the second half to rally past Daytona State College in the FCSAA/NJCAA Region 8 Semifinal on Friday night.

The No. 8 Titans picked up a 2-1 victory against No. 13 Daytona State College to advance to the Region 8 Final against Miami Dade College Sunday on the road.

"Two great teams, really good second half for us but as usual we made it more difficult on ourselves. Proud of the grit and I am hoping we are peaking at the right time," Eastern Florida State College men's coach Adam Butler said.

The teams played a pretty even first half until Daytona State's Hector Moreno gets a straight red card in the 42nd minute. 

But Daytona State would jump out front as a hand ball in the box led to a Falcons penalty kick with four seconds left in the first half. Josue Youta scores to give Daytona State a 1-0 lead.

Up a man, the Titans come out firing in the second half, putting pressure on the Daytona State defense. But the defense held strong until Stephen Gilbert was pulled down in the box in the 76th minute. 

Sophomore Luc Achermann-Stanfield took the penalty kick and buried it to tie the game.

The Titans continued to push and just over a minute later, Marcellus McCoy hit a shot inside the box that a Daytona State defender headed out but was called over the line, giving the Titans a 2-1 lead.

It was the Titans 11th win of the season as they will play for the Region 8 title for the first time.