Erb Scores Twice, Bell Breaks Points Record as Spartan Men Earn Thrilling 6-5 Double Overtime Victory versus Emory

CLEVELAND, Ohio – Junior midfielder Eric Erb (Worthington, Ohio/Worthington) scored one of his two goals on a double-header with 8:34 remaining in double overtime as the Case Western Reserve University men's soccer team earned a thrilling, 6-5 victory in a key University Athletic Association match with Emory University (Ga.) on Friday evening at Case Field.

Also highlighting the night was senior forward Vinny Bell (Parma Heights, Ohio/Valley Forge), who scored one of his two goals with just six seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime en route to breaking the CWRU record for career points.  

The Spartans improve to 10-3 overall and 2-1 in the UAA. The team wraps up its UAA weekend on Sunday, October 16 versus rival Carnegie Mellon University (Pa.) at 11:00 a.m. with six Spartan seniors being honored prior to the match. Emory drops to 6-6 overall and 1-2 in the UAA.   

The Spartans got on the board early in the sixth minute as Erb tapped a rebound shot past the Emory goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the season. The score was set up when freshman forward Patrick O'Day (Plano, Texas/Plano Senior) sent a cross to Bell that was deflected by the keeper.

Emory threatened to tie the score in the 13^th minute, but a shot by Javier Puga was blocked on a diving header by junior back Kostis Theoharides (Brookline, Mass./Brookline).

Case added to its lead in the 17^th minute when O'Day lobbed a shot over the keeper's head via an assist from Bell – his team-high eighth helper of the season.

Emory cut into its deficit in the 33^rd minute as Andrew Natalino fired a free kick into the top left corner of the net. The Eagles then evened the score with 1:25 remaining in the first half when Charlie Donahue tapped a goal into the net via a double-assist from Nao Masuda and David Garofalo.   

The Eagles moved ahead in the 58^th minute on a header from Dylan Price via a cross from Alistair Moore, then added to the lead in the 60^th minute when Andrew Jones broke free and chipped a shot past Spartan senior goalkeeper Ben Yabrow (Marietta, Ga./George Walton Comprehensive).

The Spartans got back in the match at the 63:20 mark when Bell tapped a shot past the keeper via a touch pass from O'Day.

The Eagles answered with just over 20 minutes remaining when Zach Samuels booted a free kick into the top of the net. Case refused to go away and cut the deficit to 5-4 when Theohardies found the ball during a cluster in front of the net and booted it for the score.

Case kept the pressure on and threatened to tie the score with five minutes remaining, but a shot by senior midfielder Kyle Alsup (Avon, Ohio/Detroit Country Day, Mich.) was stopped by Emory goalie Alex Wong. Undaunted, the Spartans kept coming and eventually knotted the score with just six seconds left on the clock as Bell scored via a long free kick from senior back Sam Kuehnle (Toledo, Ohio/Ottawa Hills).  

Bell now holds the four major CWRU scoring records for goals in a season (16) and a career (39) as well as points in a season (40) and a career (91).

After a scoreless first overtime period, Case scored the winner in the match's 102^nd minute as Erb connected on a header that followed a corner by junior midfielder Ross Twanmoh (Fallston, Md./Fallston) and a set-up header by junior midfielder Marco Patrie (Atlanta, Ga./The Westminster School).

For the match, Case outshot Emory, 20-14, while the Eagles held a 10-4 advantage in corner kicks.

In goal, Yabrow recorded two saves to earn the win. Wong made seven saves but took the loss for Emory.