Tiffin prepares for NCAA showdown with Maryville

Tiffin University will take on Maryville on the road in NCAA Second Round action Saturday at 1 pm EST.
Tiffin University will take on Maryville on the road in NCAA Second Round action Saturday at 1 pm EST.

Tiffin University (11-4-5) will play 3rd-seed Maryville (15-3-2) on the road in a NCAA Super Region 3 second round contest Nov. 24 at 1 pm EST.

The Dragons (seeded 6th) earned selection by winning the GMAC Tournament. They entered as the fourth seed but posted tough wins over 4th ranked Lake Erie 2-1 in double overtime before securing the championship with a gritty 1-0 win over Cedarville. For the Dragons, it continued a dominant run in which they have allowed only three total shots on goal over the last 195 minutes of action. It is also their fifth regional appearance in the last seven years.

The winner of this contest will face the winner of Bellarmine and 7th seed Cedarville after Cedarville dispatched Wisconsin-Parkside on penalty kicks 5-4 after a scoreless tie.

Maryville had been on a roll until falling in the GLVC Championship game to 2nd seeded Bellarmine 2-1. Prior to the title game, the Saints had been 4-0-2 with wins over Indianapolis 1-0, Southern Indiana 2-1, McKendree 1-0, and Illinois-Springfield in the GLVC Final Four 2-1 in overtime.

They field an offense that mirrors Tiffin's own while also boasting a stunning defense that has allowed only 49 shots on goal over the entire season. Offensively Braden Johnson leads with 11 goals and 2 assists, while Mirza Hasecic has 5 goals and 4 assists and Grady Schliepsiek has 5 goals and 2 assists.

In goal, Liam Walraven has a miniscule 0.75 GAA and has made 15 saves over 1200 minutes.

For Tiffin, Leo Hasenstab has 13 goals and 2 assists. Caleb Gibbons has played well lately, amassing 5 goals and 3 assists while Darren Appanah has 5 goals and 3 assists. Joel Daly contributes from the back with 4 goals and 3 assists, Eduardo Carvalho has 3 goals and 3 assists, and Abdoul Magid Sy adds 2 goals and 5 assists. Lukas Manneck also leads the team with 7 assists.

In goal, Dylan Morris also sports a sensational 0.71 GAA along with 57 saves.