Lynchburg, Va. -- The University of Lynchburg men's soccer team's season ended in the first round of the NCAA tournament Saturday evening after drawing 2-2 with Ohio Northern and seeing the Polar Bears advances on penalty kicks.
Lynchburg and Ohio Northern played a match for the ages worthy of a national championship match with two goals in regulation and two goals in overtime from the two teams combined. The Polar Bears advanced to the second round on PKs, 7-6, and take on No 1 Messiah on Sunday, Nov. 12.
The Polar Bears scored first in the opening minute of play working the ball on the near endline. The Polar Bears held onto their lead for nearly the rest of regulation. Lynchburg outshot ONU 6-3 in the first half but did not put a shot on frame while the Polar Bears tested Thomas Viscuso twice in goal after their opening score.
ONU dialed up the pressure in the second half after sitting on its heels to round out the first half. The Polar Bears took the first five shots of the second half with Viscuso being called on three times to make a save. Lynchburg started flipping the script in the 55th minute when the Hornets answered back with six-straight shots of their own.
With 10 minutes left in regulation, the Hornets applied the last bit of pressure needed to find an equalizer. Lynchburg earned three corners in the last five minutes, and in the 88th minute, just like he did in the conference championship on Sunday, Manzi Shalita emerged as the hero for the time being. He nailed a rocket from the far side across the field into the side netting for the equalizer score. His shot traveled over 40 yards in the air on a frozen rope to knot the score at 1-1.
The two teams headed to overtime, and it was Lynchburg's second overtime game in the NCAA tournament over its last three in the championship tournament. The Polar Bears struck first in the last 30 seconds of the first overtime period. In the second overtime, Lynchburg rattled off four-straight shots before finding a memorable equalizer once more. Working from the far sideline towards the benches, Cesar Acosta found Zach Whelan who continued the pass to Pat Figaro. The junior was wide open for a look on target and he buried Lynchburg's second equalizer in the last 10 minutes.
Neither team got off a shot before overtime ended, but the Hornets did receive two yellow cards before going into PKs.
Luke Mega started off PKs for the Hornets with a goal, and ONU's Will Shaffer missed the ensuing chance. Both teams rattled off makes until Reid Rouse stepped to the spot with a chance to send Lynchburg into the second round. ONU's keeper Lucas Hickey saved Rouse's shot and gave ONU new life. Both teams made their next shots, but Hickey saved another one, and Stephen Duggan finished the job for the Polar Bears on their eighth try.
Lynchburg's season ended in the NCAA tournament's first round for the third year in a row. Lynchburg's 15 wins tied its 2021 mark for victories, and the Hornets won their 19th Old Dominion Athletic Conference trophy.
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