MONTGOMERY, Ala. | The University of Alabama in Huntsville men's soccer team turned in a terrific effort on Sunday in the championship game of the 2017 Gulf South Conference Men's Soccer Tournament, playing to a 1-1 draw with West Alabama, but UWA won the penalty kick shootout by a 5-4 margin to win the tournament title.
 
UAH finishes the year at 9-6-3, while the Tigers head to the NCAA tournament at 15-2-1.
 
The Chargers started the contest especially strong, maintaining possession for large segments of the opening half en route to holding an 8-3 edge in shots in the period, and that solid play resulted in the contest's opening strike when Khalil Bell played a great ball to Guy Clennett who beat the keeper for his third score of the year.
 
Clennett earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team along with Jordan Wright and Myles Fullen who recorded a pair of saves in the contest.
 
The shot margin was closer in the second half with the Chargers firing eight to UWA's seven, but it was the top-seeded Tigers who capitalized as Cole Webster scored in the 70th minute to level the contest.
 
UAH nearly went back ahead in the 87th when a corner from Corent Diverres – one of seven the Chargers would earn in the game – was headed beautifully by Ethan Wilson, but the try rang off the near post.
 
The play then transitioned to the other end of the field, and Fullen was forced to make one of his stops in the 88th to preserve the tie and force the extra time.
 
In the two overtime periods, there was just one shot on goal, and that came off the foot of Bell in the 98th.
 
In the shootout, the two teams traded makes with each of Wright, Daniel Buchanan, and Wilson converting for the Chargers, but after a save by UWA's Brad Louis in the fourth round, the Tigers were successful on their attempt to go up 4-3. Leon Brudy then briefly tied it at 4-4, but the final West Alabama kick was true to lift UWA to the title.
 
For the game, UAH held an 18-11 advantage in shots with attempts that were on frame tied at 3-3. The Chargers also gained more corners than the Tigers by a 7-6 margin.
 
The contest marks the final one for a quartet of seniors for UAH in Brudy, Buchanan, Wright, and Gunnar Birgisson.
 
Both Wright and Diverres end the year as UAH's offensive leaders as both notched 25 points. Wright's came on 11 goals and three assists, while Diverres scored nine times and assisted on seven other goals.
 
Head coach Chris Kranjc – who guided the program to its first championship game since 2009 and its fourth appearance overall in just his second year – will next year welcome back 13 players who logged starts in the 2017 campaign.