No. 22 Thomas More Rallies to Defeat Geneva in Overtime to Win Third Straight PAC Title
(CRESTVIEW HILLS, Ky.) - The 22nd-ranked and No. 1-seeded Thomas More College men's soccer team rallied to defeat No. 2-seeded Geneva College, 3-2, in overtime today (Friday, November 4, 2011) in the Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) Championship Match at The Bank of Kentucky Field in Crestview Hills, Kentucky.
With the win, the Saints improve to 16-1-1 and earn a berth in the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship Tournament for the third straight year. The field of 60 for the 2011 NCAA Division III men's soccer tournament will be announced at 1 p.m. on Monday (November 7). With the loss, the Golden Tornadoes fall to 13-5-2.
Geneva took an early 1-0 lead when Jeb Nash scored off a cross from Austin Petrie at the 27:39 mark.
The Golden Tornadoes increased the lead to 2-0 when Josh Mann scored at the 54:11. Thomas More cut the lead to 1-0 at the 62:26 mark when senior defender Keith Kreidenweis (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder) scored off an assist from freshman forward Alec Robbins (Taylor Mill, Ky./Scott). The Saints then forced overtime when Kreidenweis scored at the 86:17 mark off a double assist from freshman defender Alex Dean (Fort Thomas, Ky./Highlands) and senior midfielder Alex Bertke (Cincinnati, Ohio/Elder).
With 4:17 left in the first overtime, Robbins found the back of the net for the game-winning goal off a cross from senior forward Ricky Barria (Erlanger, Ky./Dixie Heights) for the final score of 3-2.
Senior goalkeeper Zack Lawson (Frankfort, Ky./Frankfort) played all 95:43 in goal and earned the win as he allowed two goals, while recording five saves.
Thomas More out-shot Geneva, 21-10, including 9-7 on-goal and won the battle of corner kicks, 6-2
