Warriors bring down Chargers in double-overtime thriller
By: Matt Oliver
SIOUX CITY – It was a weekend of challenging contests for the Waldorf University men’s soccer team, but the Warriors prevailed while closing out their road trip on Sunday.
“This weekend was a huge mental test for the team,” Waldorf coach Michael Wilson said.
Following Saturday’s 2-1 overtime loss to Morningside College (4-0-1), the Warriors (3-3) got back on the winning track as they erased an early two-goal deficit and rallied to a 3-2 double-overtime victory against Briar Cliff University (5-1).
“We lost in a very close, hard-fought game [Saturday] and went down 2-0 early in [Sunday’s] game,” Wilson said. “It took a complete commitment of each player doing their role and giving a 100-percent work rate to achieve this comeback win.”
Freshman Ian Kramer powered Waldorf with two goals, including the game-winner. Junior Robert Serrano also notched a goal, and junior Erik Soares contributed an assist.
Sophomore goalkeeper Humberto Figueroa recorded two saves for the Warriors on four shots faced while logging 100 minutes, 18 seconds in net. Briar Cliff’s Charlie Enright finished with eight saves against 11 shots.
The previously unbeaten Chargers took control early. Prichard Sibanda turned in Briar Cliff’s first goal in the 11th minute following an assist from Gonzalo Ledesma.
Less than four minutes later, the Chargers built a two-goal advantage as Zach Sortino found the back of the net. Luis Hernandez was credited with the assist.
The Warriors wouldn’t go down and kept the pressure on. Kramer put his team on the scoreboard with an unassisted goal in the 21st minute.
Serrano connected for the equalizer in the 31st minute, knotting the score at 2-all with an unassisted goal during a highly-competitive opening half.
The second half proved to be an all-out battle as both teams remained scoreless for the final 45 minutes of regulation. One 10-minute overtime period wasn’t enough to bring the match to a close. Eighteen seconds into the second overtime, Kramer delivered the golden goal off a pass from Soares to cap Waldorf’s comeback.
The Warriors outshot Briar Cliff by a 15-10 margin. Waldorf finished with 12 shots on goal, receiving five shots on target from Kramer and four shots on frame from Soares. Serrano turned in two shots on goal, and freshman Kenolson Collin also contributed a shot on goal.
Sunday’s match marked the third consecutive overtime match for the Warriors. The 2012 campaign was the only other season Waldorf has played in three contests that were decided in overtime.
Returning to action next week, the Warriors host two matches as they face Clarke University (1-3) on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. and Dakota Wesleyan University (1-4) on Sunday at 2:30 p.m.