ROME, Ga. – Mauricio Rancel scored the game-winning goal in the 102nd minute to lift the Shorter Hawks over the Delta State Statesmen, 1-0.
The game featured a combined 39 shots, with Shorter taking 21 and Delta State 18. The two teams were nearly equal in shots on goal, as the Hawks managed 10 and the Statesmen 11.
In the opening period, Shorter had multiple chances to take the lead, but were unable to gain an advantage. Shots by Antonio Santarsiero, Richard Coomer, and Darwin Lom were all saved by Delta State's Jacob Hauenstein. Hauenstein made nine saves on the night.
Lom, Shorter's leading goal scorer, had two more attempts late in the first, but the teams went into the locker room with no score.
In the second, the Hawks defense came up big, keeping the Statesmen off the scoreboard. Delta State had two shots in the 64th minute, both from six-yards out, but each attempt was blocked by the Shorter defense.
Austen Trevers saved 11 shots on the night for the Hawks, including seven in the second period, helping to send the game into overtime.
In extra time, it was Rancel who was the hero for Shorter. He netted his fourth goal of the season, just two minutes into the second overtime period, giving the Hawks a 1-0 victory.
Shorter now stands at 6-5-1 overall and 5-1-1 in the Gulf South Conference. Delta State slips to 5-10 and 1-7 in the GSC.
The Hawks will look to make it three straight wins on Sunday, as Mississippi College comes to Rome. Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m.
