HIGH POINT, N.C. - Senior Jordie Hughes (Victoria, B.C./Spectrum) blasted home a shot in the 89th minute to give Coastal Carolina men’s soccer team a thrilling 2-1 victory over VMI in the semifinals of the Big South Tournament. Coastal now advances to the Big South Tournament Finals for the fifth consecutive season as it will take on Winthrop (12-7-1, 4-2-1 Big South) at 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13.

CCU got on the board first as senior Joseph Kabwe (Bulawayo, Zimbabwe/Sakubva (Lindsey Wilson)) blasted a ball past the VMI keeper John Sollock through the left lower corner off the feed from sophomore Lachlan Cahill (Kiama. Australia/Kiama) and Hughes (28:41). It was Kabwe’s sixth goal of the season.

VMI almost immediately answered (31:10) as sophomore Dylan Reed got a break away situation, but his shot attempt to the lower left corner was thwarted by sophomore Coastal goalkeeper Aaron Weant (Morrisville, N.C./Green Hope).

At the break, the Chanticleers held the 9-3 advantage in shots and were ahead 2-1 in shots on goal.

VMI tied the up early in the second half as junior Michael Lloyd blasted a shot from the top right of the box, off the feed from senior Kevin Aldrich (58:36) past the CCU keeper.

Coastal nearly untied the game as sophomore Patrick Robertson (Woodlands, Texas/Woodlands) narrowly missed a header off the direct kick from Cahill (64:11) as the VMI goalie made a terrific sprawling save.

The Chants again just missed minutes later (73:39), as sophomore Robert Holstein (Middleburg, Fla./St. John’s County (Queen’s University of Charlotte)) narrowly missed on a header to the far right post.

Coastal’s attack became frantic as senior Peter Louis (Dallas, Texas/Lake Highlands) had his shot blocked (86:53).

Hughes came up with the late game heroics (88:27), as he took the feed from Holstein and blasted a shot past Sollock from the top left of the box. For Hughes it was his 11th goal of the season. It was the 47th of his CCU career, moving him into a tie with Eric Schmitt for second all-time at Coastal.

For the game, CCU held a sizeable 17-8 advantage in shots, including 7-2 in shots on goal. The win went to Weant, his seventh of the season and fifth in Big South Conference Tournament play the last two years.

Coastal Carolina men’s soccer team continues its play in the Big South Men’s Soccer Tournament as it will takes on Winthrop (12-7-1, 4-2-1 Big South) at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 13 in the finals. The winner earns the conference’s automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.