A late equalizer by
Addrian Knights-Browne and a save by
Cooper Blay in the penalty shootout allowed Florida Gulf Coast University men's soccer (4-9-3, 3-3-1) to defeat Bellarmine (5-6-5, 2-3-2) on penalty kicks 5-4 on Saturday in Jacksonville, Florida and advance to the Atlantic Sun Conference semifinals.
"I'm really proud of the guys," head coach
Jesse Cormier said. "In the past when we go down, we lose a psychological edge. Tonight we didn't. We stayed in it. We kept going. That took a lot of heart. I'm proud of Addrian for taking his moment and putting us in position to win the game. We're looking forward to UNF on Monday and to be exactly where we wanted to be, in the semifinals."
The Eagles pulled off a miraculous comeback off the Knights-Browne goal with just 86 seconds left on the clock to tie the game and send it into overtime.
FGCU had kept pressure up all night, out shooting Bellarmine 16-6 for the match, 8-1 in the first half and 14-5 in regulation. The Green and Blue had six shots towards the Knights' net before Bellarmine could muster up a shot. The Eagles won the possession battle 64-36. FGCU dominated statistically but it took a dramatic turn at exactly 54 minutes on the clock.
Blay came out to meet a ball in the 18. The Bellarmine attacker got to the ball first. After Blay jumped for the ball, contacting the attacker, a penalty was awarded to Bellarmine. Austin Yowell put it away and all the effort the Eagles had put into their attack seemed destined to be wasted.
The Green and Blue kept the pressure in the offensive half for the rest of the game. After a ball in the box was pushed over the crossbar by the Bellarmine keeper,
Leo Schorr set up for the corner kick.
Schorr went short to
Arber Shala who put the ball into the box.
Pablo Brimeux allowed the ball past himself to the feet of a Bellarmine defender who put a weak touch on the ball that would find its way to Knights-Browne waiting just inside the 18. Knight-Browne placed the ball in the upper 90 and past the opposing keeper for the goal.
The match went into extra time. With the golden goal rule in effect, both teams played cautiously and 20 minutes of extra time passed without much offensive guile.
Penalty kicks started with Bellarmine going first, allowing FGCU to match the Knights. Bellarmine scored their first goal before freshman
Lucas Sperner stepped up to the spot.
Sperner stepped back and placed the ball just inside the side of the net, sending the keeper in the opposite direction.
Tied at one in penalties. Blay stepped back up, hoping to get the save to give the Eagles the momentum early in the shootout. The Bellarmine penalty taker was Yowell, who scored on a penalty earlier in the day. Yowell went the same way he went earlier and Blay guessed correctly to save the attempt.
Brimeux stepped up for the second penalty attempt, needing to capitalize on the save by Blay. Brimeux sent the keeper diving and he calmly chipped it down the center for the 2-1 lead on PKs.
Victor Lopes was the third to find himself on the spot. He walked back for a long build up and slotted it in the lower 90, tricking the keeper, sending him in the opposite direction of the ball.
Captain and All-ASUN performer
Lucas Windschauer was next in line and as only a wily vet could, Windschauer placed the ball so perfectly that the goalkeeper, who guessed correctly, could not get to it.
Cao Chaves was the next Eagle to step up. With a successful attempt, FGCU would be on to the semis. Chaves did a slow run up to the ball, eventually sending the keeper diving before he had kicked it. Chaves placed it at the opposite end of the goal and the Eagles were on to the semifinals.
Next up for the Green and Blue is the ASUN Tournament semifinal against North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. The match will be streamed on ESPN+.
