LANCASTER, Pa. – In the seventh round of penalty kicks, Jake Creus (Rye, N.Y.) stepped up to the spot, finding the back of the net, to send the Connecticut College men's soccer team past Franklin and Marshall 1-1, 7-6 on penalty kicks on Saturday evening from Tylus Field in the second round of the NCAA tournament. With the win, Conn improves to 12-1-6 on the year, while Franklin and Marshall ends the year at 14-3-3.
Franklin and Marshall (14-3-3) started quickly with two shots in the opening seven minutes, but Peter Silvester (Smiths Parish, Bermuda) turned both aside. Conn (12-1-6) answered a minute later with their first shot, but Alessandro Horvath Diano's (Budapest, Hungary) effort was stopped. The teams traded opportunities for the remainder of the half, but the game was scoreless at the break.
In the second half, the Camels upped the pressure looking for the opening goal, but were unable to get past Nolan Booth. With just under 12 minutes remaining, Elliot Spatz (Bellevue, Wash.) had his shot stopped, but the rebound fell to Jake Creus (Rye, N.Y.) whose initial shot was stopped, but he followed up the rebound to put Conn in front 1-0.
Following the opener from Creus, the Diplomats applied the pressure looking to tie the contest. With 82:20 on the clock Philip Monos put a ball into the box that connected with the head of Koa Kaliebe, getting the ball past Silvester to tie the game at one. The final seven minutes of regulation got testy, as both teams looked for a late winner, but it remained tied and headed to extra time.
In the first overtime period, neither side was able to generate much offense, as the game continued to be tied heading to the second extra session. Both teams created a few chances in the second half of extra time, but neither side broke through as the game headed to penalty kicks.
In penalty kicks, both teams were perfect through six rounds, as the teams headed to round seven all square. In round seven Oscar Horwitz went low to the right, but Silvester read it all the way, coming up with a huge stop, setting the stage for Creus. Creus stepped up to the spot, placing the ball in the left corner to send the Camels through.
Conn outshot F&M 22-21 overall, holding a 9-8 edge on shots on goal, while the Diplomats held an 8-4 advantage on corner kicks.
Silvester had a strong game in goal, making seven saves on eight shots. Creus led the Camels tallying the lone goal in open play, before putting home the penalty winner, adding three shots on target. Horvath Diano and Spatz both added two shots on goal.
Booth was solid in net for the Diplomats, making eight saves on nine shots. Kaliebe notched the lone F&M goal, while Monos added an assist.
Conn continues their run in the NCAA tournament next weekend, as the Camels will await their matchup following the conclusion of the second round tomorrow.
