Highlight Video
AVE MARIA, Fla.- The Ave Maria University men's soccer team dropped a heartbreaker on Tuesday afternoon, losing in overtime, 4-3, to Concordia College Alabama. The visiting Hornets scored less than two minutes into overtime to claim the win, capping a wild final 30 minutes that featured five combined goals and two red cards.
The match was scoreless through the first 35 minutes, with Concordia providing the game's first goal. Andrew Gutzmore delivered on a penalty kick after an AMU handball in the penalty box in the 36th minute.
Before halftime, Ave Maria struck back to tie the match at one. On a perfectly placed corner kick from Raphael Rodriguez, Hernando Valencia-Parra found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. Valencia-Parra's equalizer in the 41st minute provided the halftime score of 1-1.
A furious final 30 minutes was kicked off in the 62nd minute, when a flagrant tackle saw a Hornet red carded, giving Ave Maria a man advantage. A handball in the box then moved AMU's advantage to two men, and led to a penalty kick from Rodriguez. Rodriguez easily buried the PK, giving Ave Maria the lead for the first time.
Less than 90 seconds later, Concordia responded with an equalizer of their own. Cohen Isamnia evened the match with a 70th-minute tally despite Concordia being down to nine men.Â
In the game's waning moments, Kensley Jean Baptiste gave the lead back to the Gyrenes, as the freshman evaded the goalkeeper to provide his team-high third goal of the season in the 85th minute. Unfortunately for Ave, Concordia was able to force overtime in the 87th minute with the second goal of the day from Gutzmore.
Concordia claimed the win 84 seconds into overtime, as Aubin Klavens converted a rebound that had been saved by AMU goalkeeper John Turner into the final goal of the match.Â
Ave Maria was able to keep Concordia from converting on corner kicks, keeping the Hornets from scoring on any of their ten attempts from the corner flag. The Gyrenes scored on one of their two corners.
Turner and Andrea Salomone split time in net for the Gyrenes. Salomone saved three of the four shots put on goal in the first half by the Hornets, while Turner made his first collegiate save in his Ave Maria debut.
The Gyrenes return to the pitch immediately, opening up Sun Conference play on Wednesday night against St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens. The teams met at STU back on August 28, a game that was won by the Bobcats, 7-1. Kickoff in Miami Gardens is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.