Gambier, Ohio – Senior Nixon Siglo scored a pair of goals, but the Montclair State University men's soccer team was topped 3-2 in overtime by Centre College in the NCAA Division III Tournament Sectional Finals Sunday.
The Red Hawks (18-5-2) were unable to convert on early corner kicks before the Colonels (20-3-1) had the best scoring chance 15 minutes in. After a foul outside the box, Alexander Garuba had a shot that was snared by
MICHAEL MEJIA. Mejia denied Garuba again two minutes later, and the second try also glanced off the crossbar.
With just over 13 minutes remaining in the first half, senior Damien Kolodziej had a free-kick go wide of the near post. Three minutes later, Centre's Haydon Korfhage stopped Siglo's low shot.
Centre held a 7-4 edge in shots over the first 45 minutes, with Montclair gaining four corners to the Colonels one.
The Colonels broke through for the opening goal in the 54th minute, as Ethan Noel slipped a low shot past a diving Mejia to give them the 1-0 lead. Mejia made three consecutive saves on Garuba to keep the deficit at one.
The Red Hawks were able to level the game in the 69th minute. Sophomore
BROGAN QUIGLEY won a 50/50 ball and found classmate
MICHAEL KNAPP. Knapp played Soglo in deep, and the senior was able to chip the goalkeeper for his seventh goal of the year. Montclair took their first lead of the afternoon 2:10 later. Senior
MATT NETO got the ball low, and senior
JOE BIANCO slid a ball through to Soglo. He converted the pass right down the middle of the frame to give MSU the 2-1 advantage.
With the clock under a minute, the Colonels were able to find the equalizing tally. Dylan Barth collected a loose ball in the box to send the game into overtime. The Colonels found the game-winner 4:48 in the first extra session as Garuba fed Will Newton. Newton moved in on a breakaway and scored to advance Centre into next week's Final Four in Greensboro, NC.
Soglo had all three shots on goal for the Red Hawks, while Mejia made seven stops. Garuba led Centre with six shots, as Newton and Nafiz Budeiri each recorded five.
