MEN’S SOCCER FALLS 2-1 IN CONFERENCE CLASH AGAINST DOANE

Crete, Neb. – The Dakota Wesleyan University men's soccer team suffered a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat versus conference opponent Doane University on Saturday in Great Plains Athletic Conference action from Al Papik Field in Crete, Neb. Dakota Wesleyan sent the match to overtime off the foot of Grant Pierce (Safford, Ariz.), however, Doane scored the decisive goal in the final seconds for the one-goal home victory.

Consecutive shots on goal by Ronaldo Acosta (Half Moon Bay, Calif.) and Roberto Gerardo Romero (Lynwood, Calif.) early in the match sparked the DWU offense attack. The score remained unbothered at 0-0, however, while Garrett Douglas (Colorado Springs, Colo.) recorded a pair of saves in the first 10 minutes at the goalkeeper position.

As the match progressed to the midway point of the first period, the Tiger (2-11-0, 1-5-0 GPAC) offense attempted another pair of shots from Acosta and DWU senior left back Tyler Anderson (Monticello, Minn.). Both looks on goal were saved and the score sat tied 0-0 at halftime. Both squads recorded four shots in the opening 45 minutes while the Tigers ( 2-8-1, 2-3-1 GPAC) of Doane held a 3-2 advantage in saves.

Romero struck a shot high of the goal to open the second period while Barry-Dre Tibbetts (Cayman Islands, Cayman Islands) responded minutes later with another opportunity to find the back of the net. Yet, the match stalled at 0-0 and remained deadlocked well into the second half.

 With under five minutes to play in the contest, DOA broke the silence and took a 1-0 lead in the 85^th minute. Unphased though, a corner kick by Benjamin Lazcano (Concepcion, Chile) in the 85^th minute granted the Blue and Gray the equalizer. Pierce scored the first Dakota Wesleyan goal of the match in 87^th minute off a ricochet bringing the score to 1-1 with just seconds to spare.

 In the first overtime period, a pair of corner kicks by Lazcano and Acosta looked to spark the winning goal for the Tigers, yet neither team produced a score and the game entered a second overtime.

 Shots by Rafael Calderon (Talca, Chile) and Lazcano nearly sealed the contest in Dakota Wesleyan's favor, yet both attempts were saved by Doane goalkeeper Andres Fallas, who finished with six saves. DOA broke the tie for good in the 109^th minute and secured the 2-1 double overtime victory.

 The Tigers return to the pitch next versus Presentation College at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday from the Pepsi-Cola Soccer Complex in Mitchell, S.D.