Men's Soccer Plays Double OT Marathon Versus Regis
DURANGO, Colo. – With 34 total shots taken and 11 landing on goal, it seemed only a matter of time before someone would score. As it turned out, the teams went all the way down to the final minutes of the second overtime before Regis University tallied the goal in the 109th minute to defeat the Fort Lewis College men's soccer team, 1-0, in Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference action Friday at Dirks Field.
Both teams had chances throughout with FLC (5-3-2, 3-3-1 RMAC) holding a 19-15 shot advantage and Regis (6-3-1, 5-1-1 RMAC) holding a 7-4 edge on shots landing on goal. Regis had a 6-4 advantage on corner kicks and 7-6 on fouls.
The Skyhawks came out shooting after the Rangers generated a shot in the 8th minute, Raul Pescador, Nicolas Perez and Hakeem Rabiu all fired shots within a few minute span. Bar Hazut and Rabiu took a few more shots after that, but each shot was either high or wide.
Following a save by Ventura Salcido in the 31st minute, FLC tallied their first on net when Coleman Kane took a shot just outside the box that was saved in the 36th minute. Pescador and Kane each had shots over the final two minutes of the half, but it remained scoreless at the break. FLC held a 10-2 advantage on shots over the first 45 minutes.
The second half started with FLC attacking as Rabiu just missed a shot wide and then a shot by Ty Lang was saved. Regis had a pretty good look in the 56th minute as Kristian Hooker rushed in, but Salcido turned him back.
Things got interesting late in the half when Regis' Sam Gardner was whistled for a red card in the 71st minute leaving the Rangers down a player.
Over the final minutes of the half, each team had some decent looks with a few Ranger shots going wide and then a shot by Rabiu in the 85th minute was saved sending the game to overtime still scoreless.
FLC had the only shot in the first overtime when Rabiu launched a shot from above the box that was blocked. Regis tried to generate a shot in the final minute off a corner kick, but nothing came of it moving the game into a second overtime still scoreless.
Hazut had a good early look for FLC in the 102nd minute, but his shot sailed wide. Over the final three minutes of the OT, Regis began to make a push. Salcido came up big making a pair of big saves in the 107th minute, including a header shot that was right in front. Just a minute-plus after those chances, the Rangers came back into the zone and off a shot by Luca Kother that was saved by Salcido, John Halter was there to knock home the winning goal in the 109th minute.
Rabiu led the Skyhawks with six shots, two on goal. Pescador added four shots and Hazut with three. In goal, Salcido played all 108:22 minutes, making six saves.
Halter and Kother led the Rangers with three shots apiece, while in net Chase Webert made four saves.
FLC will remain at home this Sunday when they will face UC-Colorado Springs starting at 2:30 p.m. at Dirks Field. The Mountain Lions fell just short, 2-1, at Colorado Mesa on Friday.
Hawks Fly Together: Fans interested in making a donation to the men's soccer program can do so by (once you click link, please select gift amount, then click on select fund, pick athletic teams and scholarships from the list and then in the sub-category, select men's soccer) clicking here. Your contribution will make a direct impact on the success of YOUR Skyhawks. Thank you in advance for your unwavering support of our student-athletes and their quest for excellence.
