Hernandez Delivers as Men’s Soccer Escapes Storm in Double OT
Oct 25, 2014
DUBUQUE, Iowa – Gonzalo Hernandez lofted a rainbow-esque lob shot less than two minutes into the second overtime to give the University of Dubuque men’s soccer team the hard-fought, 2-1, victory over Simpson on senior day.
It was senior Brandon Wiley’s assist that set up Hernandez for the game-clinching goal after the Simpson (11-8, 2-4 IIAC) keeper, Zach McEntee, left the goal to pursue the pass.Wiley wanted to go out in style after he and his fellow seniors were honored between the men’s and women’s matches. He also struck first, early in the second, with a scalding shot that snuck past McEntee through the right side of the posts. After a Simpson equalizer minutes later, the scoring would cease until the second overtime.
During the two overtime periods it was all UD in the shot department after outshooting Simpson, 5-0.
In a physical game filled with hard fouls and a plethora of scoring opportunities it was the Spartans (6-7-3, 4-1-1 IIAC) who survived the grudge match. A scoreless first half could have featured multiple scores if not for spectacular saves by both keepers. UD’s Riley Jensen and McEntee used all of their 6’2” lengthy frames to deflect shots up and over the goal.
Also in the first, Hernandez nearly made Simpson pay after getting free and hitting a shot off the crossbar. Felipe Sanchez struck the rebound but added a little too much zip on the ball as it caromed off the bar and sailed it over the goal from less than 10 yards out.
The win clinched a top-4 seed for the upcoming Iowa Conference tournament and gave them their sixth win of all-time over Simpson. It moved their overall series record to 6-10 and avenged their two losses, one in the IIAC tournament, against the Storm a year ago.
NOTE: Senior Will Hirsch, Jon Hazelwonder, Pete Hager, Jack Stefanski, Ryan Gingrich, Sean Chapman, and Wiley were all honored at halftime accompanied by their parents. To date, the current class of seniors has an overall record of (35-29-6, 17-10-5 IIAC).
Oyen Field will host the UD men’s regular season finale this Tuesday, October 28th against No. 20 Luther College. The Norse defeated Central, 3-0, their last time out.
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