Box Score
By Chris Riley
ROME--The men's soccer team played their 2nd conference game in 3 days Sunday afternoon as the team faced Christian Brothers University looking to continue the good run that had seen them beat Delta State 4-3 at home on Friday night.
The Hawks came out of the gate quicker, playing like the team at home; dominating possession and playing much of the first 15 minutes of the game inside the CBU half. In the early minutes Senior
Kyle Stonecipher did a good job of protecting the back four and keeping the ball for Shorter, while some neat combination play saw
Irvin Espinal glance a volley just wide of the post.
The Hawks, though, could not find a goal from their pressure and it was CBU who struck first after the Shorter back four were slow to react to a quickly taken free kick on the halfway line that was played over the top of the Shorter defenders. The CBU striker took the ball down well on his chest before driving an impressive volley into the back of the Shorter net.
Feeling frustrated at dominating much of the play but finding themselves behind the Hawks reacted well and it took just 4 minutes for the pressure to tell as Espinal found himself on space wide on the right, beating his man and drilling in a low shot to the back post. The teams came in at halftime even at 1-1 in a hard fought first half.
The second half continued in a hard fought fashion, with play going back and forth each team looked to find the winning goal, while not committing too many numbers forward that could leave them exposed to a possible counter from the other.
The Hawks began to find some success down their left handiside with Espinal and
Robert Ochieng using their pace to exploit the CBU back four, the game looked as though one goal would settle it and as the second half progressed Christian Brothers found a couple of pockets of space that lead to two clear cut chances, one going wide and with
Nicolas Ferrigno in goal for the Hawks making a key stop on the other.
The unwillingness of each team to lose the match lead to a nervy last ten minutes with the score after 90 minutes remaining at 1-1.
Going into overtime Shorter again found the resilience that has seen them go five games unbeaten, stretching back to the very first game of the season. As the second overtime period came to a close it seemed as though the game was destin for a draw as Espinal again found Ochieng in space 6 yards in front of goal, Ochieng though blazed his volley wide of the goal.
He would make amends though just a minute later, as with just 1:13 left on the clock Espinal played a spectacular volleyed through ball with the outside of his foot to Ochieng wide on the left. With one man between himself and the goal he cut inside well bringing the ball onto his right foot and curling the ball into the top right corner of the goal from 25 yards out, leaving the CBU 'keeper with no chance.
The goal sent the Shorter fans and bench into raptures, their happiness was deserved as the goal kept the Hawks at the top of the Gulf South Conference and kept intact their 4 game winning streak. Head Coach
Paulo Neto was understandably happy with the result as he said after the game, "another outstanding win for the Shorter Men's Soccer program. This one came down to the wire, which is very significant for two reasons: the absolute refusal to lose and the mental strength to overcome the difficulties of an overtime. CBU is the reigning GSC champion for a reason which makes the win even more significant".
