ONEONTA, N.Y.– For the second time in eight days, Eastern University freshman
Jake Sankey scored an 11th-hour goal to force overtime. Sankey's heroic header, however, would not prove to be enough as the host SUNY Oneonta Red Dragons scored early in the 109th minute to claim a 2-1 win and advance to the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Eastern Men's Soccer (15-4-3) matches the program's deepest run in the tournament.
Neither team was able to score in the first half.
Quentin Keibler made a pair of saves, and the Eagles put their only shot of the period on net. Oneonta had three corners in the first half.
The Red Dragons scored on their first corner of the second half to change the dynamic of the game significantly. As the Eagles pressed forward, the game opened up, and the hosts had more chances to double the lead. The Eastern defense held in front of Keibler and the Eagles pushed more numbers forward to try to draw level.
In the MAC Freedom Championship game last Saturday, Sankey scored with 88 seconds to play, and the Eagles claimed the title in PK's. Today, the freshman midfielder headed home a
Colin Furlong corner kick in the 88th minute fo his seventh goal of the year. The Red Dragons had a late chance to win the match in regulation, but Keibler was up to the challenge.
When neither team scored in the first overtime, it looked as though the match might be progressing toward penalty kicks. The Eagles had a good chance thwarted and then committed a foul near midfield with just over two minutes to play. Oneonta's Kevin Hoff won the battle in the box for the ball and headed home his second goal of the match to send Oneonta on to the next round.
This is the final match for seniors,
Nate Roberts,
Jamie Stratton,
Jamie Bonner,
Ben Hangey, and
JD Saracco. In their time, Eastern is 60-15-6 with a pair of MAC Freedom Championships.
"I am very proud of what we have done this season," Head Coach
Mark Wagner said after the match. "The legacy of our seniors is greatly appreciated."
Today's loss was just the fourth time this year and the first time in the last eight games that the Eagles gave up more than a single goal.
