TIFFIN, Ohio – The nationally second-ranked Saginaw Valley State University men's soccer team defeated the nation's 15th-ranked Tiffin University Dragons on Friday (9/26) by a score of 3-2 in double overtime.
Tiffin got out to a 1-0 lead following a goal at the 28:43 mark. That lead would stand for the first half as the teams' headed into the halftime break. The Cardinals were outshot 7-3 in the first half.
The second half featured a lot of chances for both the Cardinals and Dragons. However, both goalkeepers kept their teams in the game until late in the half.
The Cardinals were able to get-off four shots on goal before junior Tyler Channell was able to finally reach the back of the net for SVSU. Channell received a great pass from Craig Neal and was able to tie the game as he put one in the left side of the net at the 85:58 mark.
The scoring was just getting started, as Tiffin forwad Calin Vadana was able to head one past Alexandre Bouillennec to regain the lead, 2-1 with only 50 seconds remaining in the contest.
Saginaw Valley was not done, as Channell would strike again. The junior received a crossing pass from senior midfielder Philip Strachan and was able to put one in the corner of the goal with only two seconds left on the game clock.
The match would head to overtime with the score deadlocked at 2-2. The Cardinals were able to get three shots on goal but were turned away each time. Bouillennec made two crucial saves of his own in the first overtime session to keep the match knotted.
One overtime would not prove to be enough, as the teams headed to double-overtime. The game would remain tied until the 107:44 mark, when Neal would put a the game-winning goal into the corner of the net. Tyler Stephens had the assist on the goal.
The Dragons out-shot the Cardinals 20-17 in the match, but it was SVSU who came out on-top score-wise. Bouillennec would finish the afternoon with nine saves. Neal had with the game-winning goal and one assist while Channell finished with two goals, his first goals of the 2014 season. Tyler Stephens and Strachan each had assists as well for the Cards.
"Today was one of the most dramatic games I've ever even a apart of... Two quality teams battled it out and there was action and chances all game," said SVSU head coach Cale Wassermann. "You never want to concede goals but to concede one with less than 15 seconds is absolutely heart breaking... But this team is special, everyone believed we were still in it, and we finally got the goal that we had been pushing for in dramatic fashion. I'm extremely proud of the effort, result, and the character our team showed today, but we have another huge one on Sunday against a tough Findlay team and our goal is to win the weekend."
The victory moves the Cardinals record to 6-0-1 overall and 3-0-1 in GLIAC play. The Dragons record falls to 4-1-1 overall and 3-1-0 in the GLIAC. SVSU will continue their weekend trip when they match-up with the Findlay Oilers on Sunday (9/28) afternoon at 3 pm. The Oilers are 1-5 overall and 0-3 in the GLIAC this year.