CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The University of Charleston men's soccer team returns to the NCAA Men's Soccer Final Four for the second consecutive season after defeating LIU Post Pioneers 2-1 Saturday evening at Schoenbaum Stadium.

UC, last year's national runner-up, is looking to avenge last year's 3-2 loss in the final to Lynn University. Last season's team was the first Golden Eagle athletic program to ever make a national championship game and hopes are this year's team becomes the first to earn a NCAA DII National Championship.

On a windy, drizzly evening in Charleston, the Golden Eagles didn't waste much time getting on the scoreboard as Augusto Maciel collected a pass from Renan Ramos around left edge of the 18, took a touch to his right to get by a Pioneer defender and fired a laser past IUP keeper Jesper Malstrom.  Nearly 11 minutes later Ramos again was involved in the score, this time on the receiving end of a Will Roberts scoop pass over three Pioneer defenders that Ramos collected then neatly placed a soft shot into the right side netting giving UC a comfortable 2-0 cushion.

The Pioneers weren't rattled and kept pressing as they had wind at their back. It was in the 42^nd minute that Tom Bowen stood over a free kick from nearly 35 yards out and blasted a shot past an outstretched Fabian Veit into the top left corner of UC's net to cut the Golden Eagle lead in half, 2-1, as they entered the halftime break.

LIU Post carried the momentum into the second half and was the more dangerous team for a majority of the half, producing chances that Veit continued to turn away with three of his four saves coming in the final 45.  UC finally settled in late in the half and got back to their typical possession style as the clock approached the remaining 10 minutes.  Post provided some late opportunities but the Charleston back four were equal to the task to preserve the 2-1 quarterfinal win and carry them into the NCAA DII Men's Soccer Final Four in Pensacola, Fla. on December 3^rd.

UC awaits the winner of Sunday's Super Region 2 match between Palm Beach Atlantic and Pfeiffer.