Gophers Forge Frantic Comeback to Tie in ECAC Quarterfinal, Alvernia Prevails in PKs.

Gophers Forge Frantic Comeback to Tie in ECAC Quarterfinal, Alvernia Prevails in PKs.
November 13, 2022

TOWSON, Md. - Second-seeded Goucher College scored twice in the final five minutes of regulation to force overtime and an eventual 2-2 tie with top-seeded Alvernia University in an ECAC tournament quarterfinal on Sunday at Beldon Field.  The Golden Wolves advanced to next weekend's semifinal round with a 4-3 win in the penalty kick shootout.

First Half

  • Neither side had a shot on goal until midway through the first half when Alvernia's (11-4-6) Connor Kraycik put a shot on that was saved by Goucher (10-4-6) goalie Ale Sternini (Rome, Italy/Williston Northampton).
  • Just over a minute later, the Golden Wolves took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Franc Turcios-Ramos.
  • Goucher generated a corner kick with two minutes to go in the half.
  • Yaya Diabagate (Hyattsville, Md. / International HS at Langley Park) sent a shot wide in the closing moments of the half.

Second Half

  • Alvernia increased its lead to 2-0 1:09 into the second half as Kraycik scored.
  • Will Frasier (Hereford, Md./Hereford) had a shot saved by Alvernia keeper Evan Solley with just under 30 minutes left in regulation.
  • Five minutes later Solley made a save on a Bobby Beringer (Okinawa, Japan/Richard Montgomery) shot.
  • Goucher kept pushing up as it eventually outshot Alvernia 15-3 in the second half.
  • Beringer pushed a header just wide with 10 minutes to play.
  • Sternini made a save on a shot by Austin Chambers in the 83rd minute.
  • With 4:15 left, the Gophers got on the board as Diabagate scored.  After a restart from midfield, Jeremiah Odubade (London, England/Fairmont Heights) tapped a short pass to Diabagate who put it past Solley from the top of the 8.
  • Odubade sent a shot just high with just over two minutes to go in regultion. 
  • With just over a minute left Goucher tied it as Ali Kazim Nakhid (Beirut, Lebanon/UMBC) scored his 11th goal of the season.
  • Andres Aristimuno (Huger, S.C./Oceanside Collegiate Academy) played a ball on the ground to Nakhid, who delivered a low shot from 12 yards out to tie the game.

Overtime

  • Neither side put a shot on goal in the first overtime.
  • Alvernia found itself down a man in the 95th minute when an AU player picked up his second yellow card on the day.
  • Isaiah Perry (West Hartford, Conn./Hall) put a shot on goal seconds into the second extra session that was saved by Solley.
  • Solley made a save on a shot by Aristimuno midway through the second OT.
  • Aristimuno had another shot saved in the closing seconds of play.
  • In the shootout both teams made their first two penalty kick attempts.
  • In the third round, Sternini made a save while Jonathan Alvarado (Hyattsville, Md. / International HS at Langley Park) converted his PK to put the Gophers up 3-2.
  • In round four, after the Golden Wolves converted, Goucher missed to tie the shootout.
  • Alvernia made its fifth penalty kick, while Solley recorded a save on the fifth Gopher attempt to move Alvernia to the ECAC semifinals.

Numbers and Notes

  • Goucher finished with a 24-10 shot advantage, including 21-6 after halftime.
  • The Gophers also took seven of the game's 10 corner kicks.
  • Sternini made two saves for Goucher, while Solley recorded five stops.
  • Aristumuno led Goucher with five shots on the day.
  • Goucher, which was making its first-ever ECAC appearance, finishes with its most victories since 1992 and tied for the second most in program history.
  • The Gophers also finished above .500 for the first time since 2014.

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