HAMILTON – Kentaro Morrison scored the golden goal 1:31 into overtime to cap a two-goal comeback and send the Colgate men's soccer team to the Patriot League semifinals for the fourth consecutive year with a 3-2 victory over American Tuesday night at Beyer-Small '76 Field.
Colgate held offensive possession for the entire extra period with American playing shorthanded due to a pair of red cards. With the Raiders on the attack,
Oliver Harris hit Morrison on the run with a centering pass at the top of the box. Morrison picked his spot and rifled the game-winner inside the left post to complete the comeback victory and send Beyer-Small '76 Field into a frenzy.
American came up short on the upset bid after taking an early 2-0 lead in the first half. The Eagles struck first in the seventh minute on a goal by Viggo Sjoberg after a strong throw-in came into the box from the sideline. Colgate had a chance to clear, but Sjoberg capitalized on the loose ball in front to break the scoreless game.
Matt Sloan doubled the Eagles lead in the 28th minute on a rebound inside the six-yard box.
Jacob Harris and the Raiders defense stiffened late in the first half to keep the deficit at two.
Colgate started to play more aggressive as the first half wore on.
Lucas Lezcano forced a strong save by Eagles keeper Lucas Manso after
Uyi Omorogbe had a shot blocked from the right side in the 34th minute.
The Raiders continued to pressure and were able to cut the American lead in half with less than five minutes remaining in the frame. A deflected shot found first-year
Kian Alberto, who booted a shot from 25 yards out past the outstretched arms of Manso to slim the margin to 2-1 in the 41st minute.
After two yellow cards and a red card were drawn on American with just 23 seconds left in the half, the Eagles went to the locker room holding a 2-1 lead. They were forced to play without their starting keeper, Manso, who yielded the red card after a late first-half foul inside the box.
Colgate came out in the second half and dominated possession playing a man up. New American keeper John Mino stood tall with eight saves to keep the Eagles clinging to a 2-1 lead late in regulation.
Enter
Aram Ouligian.
The senior defender, who was presented with his Patriot League Defensive Player of the Year plaque prior to the match, came through in the clutch once again for the Raiders. In the 85th minute, Harris once more centered a pass into the box. Ouligian found a way to connect on the cross with a diving header to the back of the net for the equalizer with just over five minutes left.
Another red card on the Eagles in the 85th minute left them playing down two men and Colgate continued to dominate offensive possession until Morrison's heroics early in overtime.
BOTTOM LINE
• Colgate 3, American 2.
FROM THE SOURCE
• Colgate head coach
Erik Ronning:
"I am certainly happy to be moving on in the tournament. We started poorly but kept trying to find a rhythm and Kian [Alberto] came up big late in the first half to give us a little momentum heading into the second half."
"In the second half, our guys kept their composure well and continued to battle to find the equalizer, and we were rewarded."
"We are looking forward to another big semifinal match against Lehigh on Friday night."
FOR THE RECORD
• Colgate reached double-digit victories for the fourth straight year and improved to 10-4-5 with the win.
• American saw its season come to an end at 4-9-5.
KEY RAIDER NOTES
• Colgate advances to the Patriot League semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.
• The Raiders' three goals tied their season high (9/29, 3-0 win over Army).
• Colgate improved to 2-0-5 in overtime games this season.
• Alberto's goal was the first of his career.
• Ouligian netted his second tally of the season and 15th goal of his career.
• Both of Ouligian's goals this season have tied the game in the final minutes of regulation.
• Harris tallied his third and fourth assists of the campaign.
BY THE NUMBERS
• Colgate dominated American in shots 30-5, including a 12-5 advantage on goal.
• The Raiders held a 5-0 edge in corner kicks.
• American was called for 18 fouls, while Colgate was whistled for eight fouls.
UP NEXT
• Colgate will take on Lehigh in the Patriot League semifinals at Loyola on Friday night.
• Kickoff from Baltimore, Md., is slated for 7 p.m.
