Men's Soccer advances in PKs at Lynchburg (Va.) in first round of NCAA Tournament

Men's Soccer advances in PKs at Lynchburg (Va.) in first round of NCAA Tournament
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Team Stats

November 10, 2023

LYNCHBURG, Va. — After a back-and-forth regulation and overtime of Saturday evening's first round NCAA Division III Tournament game that ended with the score tied 2-2, the Ohio Northern men's soccer team advanced past site host Lynchburg (Va.) with a 7-6 edge in penalty kicks. The Polar Bears advance to Sunday's second-round game against No. 1 Messiah (Pa.).

| NCAA Tournament site |

The Basics

  • Records: Ohio Northern (12-5-4 overall), Lynchburg (Va.) (15-3-3 overall)
  • Venue: Shellenberger Field — Lynchburg, Va.

The Match

  • The Polar Bears scored just 51 seconds into the game, getting a goal from senior Will Shaffer (Galena/St. Francis DeSales) on an assist from junior Ryan Sommerfeld (Dublin/Coffman).
  • Northern held that 1-0 lead until very late in regulation when the Hornets tied the score on a goal with just 2:40 remaining, eventually sending the game to overtime.
  • ONU scored first in the non-sudden-death overtime, as junior Ryan Parker (Lexington) found the back of the net in the 100th minute on an assist from freshman Colin Gottron (Dayton/Centerville).
  • In the second 10-minute overtime period, Lynchburg tied the score yet again, getting a goal in the 108th minute.
  • In the penalty kick shootout, Shaffer missed on ONU's first attempt, but the Polar Bears were 7-for-7 the rest of the way.
  • The Hornets made their first four penalty kicks, but ONU junior goalkeeper Lucas Hickey (Conroe, Tex./Oak Ridge) kept hope alive for the Polar Bears with a save on Lynchburg's fifth attempt.
  • Junior Stephen Duggan (Saginaw, Mich./Freeland) made what proved to be the winning penalty kick, as the Hornets were unable to connect on their final try thanks to a save from Hickey.
  • Hickey played all 110 minutes of regulation and overtime in goal for ONU and recorded four saves.
  • The Hornets out-shot the Polar Bears 26-15 and finished with an 8-4 edge in corner kicks.

Post-Game Interview

Notables

  • Shaffer's goal was his 10th of the season. He has 36 career points on 13 goals and 10 assists.
  • Sommerfeld has a team-high 27 points on the season via 11 goals and five assists.
  • Parker's goal was his fourth of the season. He has 26 career points on seven goals and 12 assists.
  • This is the second straight year that ONU has played in the NCAA Tournament. The Polar Bears won two games to advance to the Sweet 16 in 2022.
  • Northern is now 11-10-3 in 10 appearances in the NCAA Tournament.
  • Saturday's game marked the first all-time meeting between ONU and Lynchburg.
  • Fifth-year head coach Chris Matejka is now 55-26-16 at ONU.

Up Next

  • The Polar Bears return to action on Sunday to face No. 1 Messiah (Pa.) in the second round of the NCAA Tournament at Lynchburg (Va.) at 3 p.m.