Men's Soccer | 10/20/2013 1:55:00 AM
Box Score
McPherson, Kan. – 70 minutes of Bulldog dominance was nearly unraveled as Saint Mary mounted a comeback late but McPherson kept their poise and got things done in double overtime 4-3. The 'Dogs are now 7-6 for the year, 4-1 in the KCAC.
"Our team persevered today despite all our obstacles and found a way to win," said Coach Doug Quint. "I am very proud of them for that."
It was a fast start for Mac as they scored in the eighth and ninth minute of the Saturday afternoon contest.
Kevin Aka (Paris, France) scored the first off a
Tito Ruiz (Weatherford, Texas) pass then
Johnny Nuthall (Reno, Nev.) slotted one in after an
Oscar Cortez (Dallas, Texas) dish. McPherson had multiple chances to increase their lead in the opening period but were unable to get another one across the line, taking their 2-0 lead into halftime.
10 minutes after the second half got going, Aka scored his second goal of the match as
Rafael Fuentes (Los Angeles, Calif.) served it up, putting the Bulldogs up 3-0 with 34 minutes to go.
Saint Mary's Gerdson Lubin then took it upon himself to make sure that the Spires had a fighting chance, scoring three goals for USM, coming in the 65
th, 79
th, and 84
th minutes. Unfortunately for Lubin and Saint Mary, his final goal would take him out for the remainder of the game due to an injury but his effort was not in vain as he forced overtime.
The Spires took three shots in OT, putting all of them on target but MC keeper
Aaron Parrott (Wichita, Kan.), subbed in for his brother
Taylor Parrott (Wichita, Kan.) who was injured on the same third goal of Lubin's, made saves on all three balls, forcing a second overtime.
It was all McPherson in the second overtime as they took three shots with a Nuthall left-footer making its way in for the Bulldog victory;
Octavio Villa (Desoto, Kan.) was credited with the assist on the game-winning goal.
MC took 25 shots in the game, nine in the first period, 11 in the second and five in the two overtime periods. Nuthall attempted a team-high nine attempts, putting three on target while Aka shot the ball eight times, placing seven on frame.
T. Parrott got the start for McPherson and made it 84 minutes before being substituted for his brother A. Parrott following the injury; the two combined for six saves in the win.
A game with huge post-season significance awaits McPherson as they host Tabor College on Wednesday, October 23
rd; the 4:00 p.m. (CT) match will be played on the McPherson College grass soccer field. The two clubs are sitting second in the KCAC behind Kansas Wesleyan in the conference standings.
Make sure to follow Bulldog Nation on
Facebook (MCathletics) and
Twitter (@MAC_Bulldogs)
