Waynesburg's Golden Goal in 98th Minute Stings Blazers in 3-2 Overtime Loss
FREDERICK, Md.--Forward Danny Griebert headed in the golden goal with 2:22 left in the first overtime period to lift the visiting Waynesburg University Yellow Jackets (3-4-1) to a 3-2 overtime win over the Hood College men's soccer team (2-4) Saturday at Thomas Athletic Field.
In the ninth minute, sophomore Jaime Ramirez took the first of Hood's seven corner kicks on the afternoon and sent the ball into the box where junior J.T. Smaldore was there to knock in his first goal of the season and the second of his Blazer career. That would stand as the lone score of the half as the Blazers took a 1-0 lead into the break.
Ramirez had a hand in Hood's second score of the day as well in the 52nd minute when he booted the ball ahead to teammate Eric Diehl, who broke free and fed Mat Dybala in front of the net. The tally was Dybala's second of the season.
Waynesburg cut the deficit in half in the 65th minute when Stephen Zimmerman notched his third goal of the season off a feed from Erick Burke. The Blazers then had their would-be third goal of the game retracted on an offsides call. Ramirez took a free kick and Aaron Crone laid out to head the ball past keeper Ryan Hunsberger but the officials determined Crone was offsides, thus wiping out the score.
Then with just 1:26 left in regulation, Burke tapped in the game-tying goal on a ball that bounced off Hood keeper Will Lane's gloves. Hood had two chances at the game-winner in the final seconds but Doug Raftery's header was blocked and Jacob Ausherman's attempt sailed wide, forcing the second overtime contest between these two schools in as many years.
Waynesburg used their momentum from the end of the second half to carry them into the extra session and controlled possession for the majority of overtime. After misfiring on their first three attempts, Griebert headed in the golden goal inside the near post in the 98th minute for Waynesburg.
Lane finished with eight saves in the tough-luck loss while his counterpart Hunsberger finished with five stops.
Hood travels to Capital Athletic Conference foe Frostburg State University Tuesday for a pivotal matchup at 7 p.m.
