GREENVILLE, Pa. (Oct. 8) – The Waynesburg University men's soccer team had to work overtime on the weekend when it traveled to Thiel on Saturday. The extra effort was well worth it, however, as the Yellow Jackets found themselves on the right end of a 3-2 double-overtime contest.
Waynesburg's (3-9, 1-2) most recent win marked the second time in three games, and the third time in its last six contest, that the Jackets have played past the 100
th minute. The previous two matches ended in 2-1 defeats for the Orange and Black.
The two teams played to a scoreless first half, despite a combined 16 shots (six on goal) being produced over the first 45 minutes. After Thiel (3-10-1, 0-3) broke up the 0-0 tie in the 49
th minute, the Jackets got on the board when senior
Josh Hennigh tied the match five minutes later off a free kick from freshman
Justin Buberl.
Momentum swung back to the Tomcats with a go-ahead tally in the 78
th minute, but the Jackets were able to score with just minutes remaining on regulation to knot the score at 2-2. Sophomore
Matt Hlasnick did the honors late in the 82
nd minute after the ball deflected off a defender.
With neither team able to score in the final seven minutes of play, the game went into the first overtime period, where Waynesburg pounded the Thiel goal with four shots on net. Unfortunately, none of them found the twine and the contest went into a second OT period.
The Jackets finally ended the lengthy tilt when senior
Chad Palucka got just enough on a shot to end the contest in the 106
th minute. Buberl completed his first multi-assist game as a collegian on the contest-deciding score. It was his team-leading fourth helper of the season.
The Jackets finished the day with a decided 28-13 advantage in total shots, including a 10-7 edge in shots on goal. The Jackets also attempted a whopping 15 corner kicks.
Sophomore
James Snyder started and played all 106:41 in net. He picked up the victory after stopping five-of-seven shots on net.
Waynesburg is back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 11, when it hosts Washington & Jefferson for its annual Kick Pancreatic Cancer game. Start time is scheduled for 8 p.m.