DURANGO, Colo. – The battle between No. 11 Midwestern State University and No. 2 Fort Lewis College (Colo.) ended in a 1-1 tie, but it was Fort Lewis that advanced in the NCAA Division II Midwest Regional Men's Soccer Final Sunday afternoon.
Fort Lewis (19-1-1), the defending national champion, advances to the round of eight by taking the penalty kick shootout 3-1.
MSU (18-2-2) ends its season.
Midwestern led most of the contest, after taking a 1-0 lead in the 32nd minute.
Senior
Sun Potter got a cross from
Daniel Brown inside the box and drove it past FLC goal keeper Tom Donley for the lead.
That lead held up until late in regulation, thanks to the play of MSU keeper
Jeremy Turner. He recorded nine saves against 23 FLC shots in the contest, but allowed one goal with just 2:57 to play in regulation.
In a scramble in front of the net, FLC's David Barden got a head on the ball to get it past Turner.
The overtime periods saw both teams battle, with FLC taking five shots to MSU's four.
In the shootout, it was Donley who was the star.
He blocked Obed Beccera's first penalty kick after FLC's Bernardo Costa had his blocked by Turner.
Then it was Nick Krichhof who scored for FLC. MSU's
Daniel Brown had his shot blocked by Donley, but it rolled across the goal line to tie the shootout at 1-all.
Fort Lewis' Tom Settle sent the next kick by Turner for a 2-1 advantage.
Brandon Swartzendruber stepped up for MSU, drilled the ball that Donley got a hand on to block keeping FLC with the lead.
Ben Gantenbein deflated MSU with his good PK in the fourth round, for the 3-1 lead.
Scott Leonard came up for MSU. His right side shot got by Donley, but hit the post and was out, ending the shootout.
Fort Lewis advances to host Seattle University in the NCAA Division II Quarterfinal next weekend.
+++ MSU +++