Belton, TX – The University of the Ozarks mounted a furious second-half comeback and then put the game away on penalty kicks as the Eagles eliminated Mississippi College by a 3-1 edge on penalty kicks in an American Southwest Conference Men's Soccer Championship Tournament first round game Friday in Belton. The two teams were tied 3-3 after a pair of overtimes to send the game to penalty kicks.
When 110 minutes of action could not determine a winner, Ozarks won the toss and took first shot in the penalty kick session. Brandon VanCleave converted his but was matched by MC's Dylan Boudreaux. Ozarks' Aaron Brueckner was stopped by MC goalkeeper Andrew Dailey in the next group, but Neil Thompson stoned the Choctaws' Tyler Wade to keep it tied at one. Dylan Evans would miss the next shot for Ozarks, but Thompson came up big again with a stop of MC's Barry Prather. Travis Murnan converted the next kick for Ozarks to give the Eagles a 2-1 edge and Michael Cooper missed high for the Choctaws. Shaun Renfro then banged home the next shot for Ozarks to send the Eagles on to the next round.
The Choctaws would take a 1-0 lead when Nick Murry scored off an assist from Julio Cesar Espinal with just 3:41 remaining in the first half. Mississippi College would stretch it to 2-0 on Boudreaux's unassisted goal just 3:21 into the second half. The Eagles started their comeback when VanCleave scored off an assist from Renfro at the 66:03 mark. Ozarks would tie the match when Seth Anderson knocked home an assist from VanCleave 11 minutes later. MC head coach Kevin Johns would be ejected 1:37 after the tying goal and the inspired Eagles would take a 3-2 lead on VanCleave's goal off an assist from Evans at the 81:31 mark. Mississippi College would score the equalizer when Ben Cross hammered home a loose ball off a corner kick with just 1:32 remaining in regulation. Neither team posted a serious threat through the two overtime periods to send it to penalty kicks.
Thompson had five saves in goal for the Eagles and came up big with a pair of acrobatic saves off those penalty kicks. Dailey finished with four saves in goal for the Choctaws. The match turned physical early and the two teams combined for eight cards and 30 total fouls in the match.
Ozarks is now 12-4-3 on the season and the Eagles advance to face #2 seed Hardin-Simmons University in a 2:00 PM semifinal tomorrow. The loss ends Mississippi College's season at 12-4-4.
