WATERVILLE, ME- #1 Thomas College (12-2-2 overall, 8-0-1 NAC) will host #8 Green Mountain College (3-11 overall, 2-7 NAC) in the North Atlantic Conference (NAC) men's soccer quarterfinal at 1:00 PM on Saturday, October 27, at The Black Field on the campus of Thomas College.
How they got here:
Thomas enters the NAC Championship on a six-game win streak and finished the season without a loss in the NAC, garnering the top seed and home-field advantage throughout the post-season. Having been shut out just twice all year, the Terriers offense has proven to be opportunistic with big goals at the right moments.
With two NAC victories on the season, Green Mountain College secured the eighth and final conference playoff spot.
The last time the two met:
The Terriers blanked the Eagles 2-0 in Poultney, Vt. on October 6, 2012. Joshua Phelps (Maroochydor, Australia) netted both of the Terriers' goals in the second half. Thomas outshot Green Mountain 25-6 in the contest.
What they have done lately?
Thomas has won seven of their last eight dating back to September 30th. The Terriers have outscored their opponents 14-4 in their last six games. In the season finale, the Terriers outshot the University of Maine at Farmington 19-4.
Green Mountain's last eight games have all been against conference opponents. They are 1-7 in those contests. The Eagles came up just short in their final game of the season against New England College.
Historically speaking:
Dating back five years, Thomas is 5-0 against Green Mountain College. The Terriers have outscored the Eagles 20-3 in those contests, with two of Green Mountain's three goals coming during a single matchup in 2008.
Coaches Corner:
Head Coach Christopher Parsons (22-9-2), now in his second season at Thomas, has guided the Terriers to the postseason in both of his first two seasons at the helm. Last year, in double overtime, Thomas lost their quarterfinal matchup to Maine Maritime Academy 1-0. Prior to taking over at Thomas, Parsons spent three seasons as the head coach at the University of Maine at Farmington.
Green Mountain College head coach Josh Petty, in his first season, has led the Eagles to the postseason for the first time since joining the NAC. Prior to Green Mountain College, Petty spent three years as the assistant coach at Carleton College in Northfield, Minn.
Who to watch:
With reigning NAC Player of the Year Michael Hand (Essex, England) out of action with a groin injury, sophomore forward Dakota Duplissie (Hampden, Maine) leads the Terrier charge on offense. Dakota is second on the team in goals and points, first on the team in assists with six, which is good enough for second most in the NAC. Duplissie is enjoying a breakout season, after being tied for third on the team a year ago with nine points.
Thomas goalkeeper Mikkail Crockwell (St. David's, Bermuda) has had a stellar junior season for the Terriers. He leads the NAC with a .885 save percentage and is second in the conference with a 0.67 goals against average. Crockwell has only given up 10 goals on the year, which is also second in the NAC.
For Green Mountain College, freshman Nate Laymon (Ilion, N.Y.) and sophomore Matt Kukola (Blackwood, N.J.) have notched a team leading two goals on the year. Laymon has the most points for the Eagles with 6.
