November 22, 2004|By FROM STAFF REPORTS
SALISBURY - Junior Bill Whittington was all the offense Salisbury needed as the third-ranked Sea Gulls rolled past No. 15 Richard Stockton, 4-2, in an NCAA Division III sectional final yesterday. The win at the Salisbury Athletics Complex sent Salisbury to the national semifinals for the first time in school history.
The Sea Gulls (20-0-3) will face Messiah on Friday in Greensboro, N.C.
Whittington scored all four goals for the Sea Gulls yesterday, setting a school record for the most goals in a season with 20 while helping Salisbury rally from a 2-0 deficit.
Richard Stockton (18-4-3) got goals in the first 13 minutes from Dan Morse and Eric Lewis, but Whittington answered with a score in the 17th minute to begin the rally.
He tied the game in the 54th minute, scoring on a header off an assist from Dan Lader (C. Milton Wright), then put the Sea Gulls ahead after taking a pass from J.J. King and scoring at 68:53. That goal was his 19th, breaking Salisbury's previous single-season mark of 18, set by Matt Bowman in 2001.
Whittington added a goal at 87:25, helping the Sea Gulls extend their unbeaten streak to 23 games.
Salisbury held an 18-10 edge in total shots, including a 12-2 advantage during the decisive second half. Jason Cranford made three saves for the Sea Gulls; Ospreys goalkeeper Tim McKenna finished with five.
Awaiting Salisbury in Friday's national semifinal are the ninth-ranked Falcons (20-2), who are seeking their third Division III championship in the past five years. They beat Wartburg, 2-0, yesterday in their sectional final.
