MORGANTOWN, W.Va. - Old Dominion grabbed a go-ahead goal from Lewis Rourke in the 83rd minute but conceded a goal in the 89th to Pablo Pozos to level the Sun Belt Conference Tournament Quarterfinal against WVU. The game went to extra time, and eventually penalty kicks, as the Monarchs fell to West Virginia, 2-2 (5-4 PKs) at the Dick Dlesk Soccer Stadium on Sunday afternoon.
“I’m so disappointed for the lads tonight,” said ODU head coach Tennant McVea. “The performance against a top side was fantastic. We fought our way back from behind and that showed the type of character this group has. Penalties are never an easy way to exit at this time of the year but that’s all part of the game.”
ODU’s (5-5-8) Marcelo Randolf had his first penalty kick saved as WVU’s (12-3-3) Carlos Hernando converted to give the home team an early, 1-0 lead. Evan Watt scored ODU’s second kick and Marcus Caldeira overhit his attempt to smack the crossbar, 1-1. Kryazhev, Wynne, and Dunne would all convert their kicks along with Oscar Emilio Trujillo Lizarrage, Pozos, Juan Alavarez, and Isaac Scheer. Michael Eberle needed to make his attempt to keep the game going but Bonnaire made the stop going to his left, 5-4.
“The group of graduating players will be missed,” said McVea. “When I took over last year I asked them to be the driving force to move this program forward. They have been warriors for me and I’m proud of every single one of them.”
ODU almost got off to a flying start in the first minute of the game when Barrett Saul lofted in a free kick from behind the halfway line to find a Monarch in the box. He headed it to Jake Lane who was alone and right in front of goal, but his shot was saved by WVU’s Marc Bonnaire.
The Silver and Blue fell behind, 1-0 after Isaac Scheer slotted the ball past Michael Statham in the 33rd. Evan Watt and Jamie Wynne would both try to respond quickly, with the duo getting shots on goal in the 35th and 36th minute, but Bonnaire denied ODU twice. With two minutes before the end of the first half, ODU would get two shots blocked by Mountaineer defenders that resulted in a corner kick with 50 seconds remaining. The set piece delivery by Saul wasn’t able to find any Monarchs in the box and ODU went into the half down, 1-0.
Michael Statham made a big save in the 55th minute from an Ethan Dekel Daks shot to keep the Monarchs in striking distance. Pozos would test Statham for a second time in the first 20 minutes of the final stanza, but Statham met the ball with his gloves. The Monarchs would get themselves back in the match thanks to All-Sun Belt Second Team selection Rourke. He got on the end of a long pass by Mathias Krohnstad, who found Eberle as he headed it onto Rourke’s path to slot the leveling goal home in the 66th, 1-1.
Eberle would force Bonnaire to make a save and keep things tied four minutes later. Caldeira and Tristian Pusztahegyi had their responses blocked, and Dante Huckaby had a strike in the 74th that forced Statham into a save. Rourke then scored what may potentially be the best goal of the tournament when a high-arching pass caused confusion amongst WVU defenders and Rourke found himself with enough space to smack an overhead kick into the left side of the goal for his brace. Pozos would equalize with 54 seconds remaining in regulation from a free kick and a header into the top right of the net as the two sides prepared for extra time, 2-2.
Only one shot would be taken in the first 10 minutes of extras, and it would be Watt who had a chance to score the golden goal from a free kick outside the box. His attempt got over the wall, but it was high and right at Bonnaire who made the save and conceded a corner kick. ODU’s set piece couldn’t find anyone to make a play and the first period of extra time ended.
West Virginia would show more signs of life in the second period with six total shots in the final 10 minutes. Nacho Martinez (102nd), Pozos (103rd), and Martinez (103) again would test Statham but the senior from Stockport, England was equal to each shot. Caldeira would have two shots fly off the mark before Lewis Rourke would have his chance at a golden hat trick securing goal, sadly it would not be on target. WVU’s Felix Ewald had the last crack but it too flew off target, and the game went to penalties.
Aktan, Dunne, Magib-So, Watt, and Wynne each played the full 110:00 minutes of action. Rourke led the team with four shots and two on goal followed by Watt with three shots and all three on target. The Monarchs finished with 15 shots, eight shots on goal, and three corners. The Mountaineers had 18 shots, 10 on goal, and three corners.
Statham made eight saves in 110:00 minutes but was substituted by Logan Bellina for the penalty kicks. Bonnaire made six saves in the winning effort.