McPHERSON, Kan. (macbulldogs.com) --- A goal by
Navid Istanbullu (Bremen, Germany, Oberschule Rockwinkel) just 1:06 into overtime propelled the McPherson College men's soccer team to a 1-0 victory over rival Tabor College in the semifinal round of the Kansas Collegiate Athletic Conference (KCAC) Tournament Tuesday night at McPherson Stadium.
The second-seeded Bulldogs (12-6) - now winners of seven in a row - controlled possession for the majority of the game, opting on many occasions to work the ball along the back line while waiting for passing lanes to open up as the sixth-seeded Bluejays (8-9-1) took a defensive posture.
When the opportunity struck, however, either
Edward Gomez (Lancaster, Calif., College of the Canyons) or
Christopher Kelly (Glasgow, Scotland, St. Ambrose HS) worked to facilitate the offense. McPherson held a commanding 15-4 advantage in shots in regulation, including an 7-2 edge in shots on goal, but could only get one ball past Tabor goalkeeper Derrick Eszlinger and it was kicked away at the last second by defender Cameron Martinez for a team save.
The break would finally come early in the extra session after a
Hernan Maldonado (National City, Calif., San Diego Mesa College) corner kick. The kick itself overshot the goal, but was eventually corralled by Istanbullu near the end line. Istanbullu fired a shot on goal that deflected off a Tabor defender and skittered across the line to end the game.
Kelly finished with four shots, including two on goal, while Istanbullu and
Diego Loza (San Diego, Calif., San Diego Mesa College) added three shots apiece. Gomez and
Tyler Minney (Stewkley, England, Sir Henry Floyd Grammar School) each also registered multiple shots.
McPherson keeper
Jose Alonso (Wichita, Kan., Derby HS) was credited with a pair of saves.
Austin Meads accounted for two of Tabor's four shots, while Robert Talamantez and Rex Glenn had one each. Eszlinger accounted for six saves in defeat.
"The playoffs are about surviving and advancing," said head coach Doug Quint. "Tonight, we found a way to do that. Tabor came in and, defensively, were really organized and made things difficult for us. The staff had them ready to play. We controlled the game with our possession but really found it difficult to break them down in the final third with all their numbers behind the ball. I really thought we found the game-winner at the end of the regulation, but their keeper made a fantastic save. In the end, we found a way to win and advance to the final."
McPherson will travel to Bartlesville, Oklahoma, to face top-seeded and No. 2-ranked Oklahoma Wesleyan University in the KCAC Tournament final. The Eagles (18-1-1) edged fourth-seeded Kansas Wesleyan, 1-0, on a goal in the 83rd minute by Aleksandr Simovic. Kickoff is slated for 7 p.m. Friday evening at the OKWU Soccer Complex.
