Box Score Recap courtesy of Hamilton College
CLINTON, NY - Junior Spenser Heller scored the game-winning goal with just 3:40 left in the second overtime as host Hamilton College knocked off Tufts, 2-1, in NESCAC men's soccer action Sunday at Love Field.
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| Sophomore Scott Sclar netted his first collegiate goal on a PK |
Heller's golden goal capped a rally that started when Hamilton tied the game on a penalty kick in the 82nd minute.
The winning goal came from a counter-attack following a Jumbos corner kick. Alec Talsania brought the ball down the left side and sent a cross to the right post that Jack Temko played to the opposite side where a sliding Heller sent it into the net, setting off a wild celebration by the Continentals.
Hamilton (4-5, 2-4 NESCAC) hadn't beaten a nationally ranked opponent since topping No. 21 St. Lawrence 2-1 Oct. 10, 2007. The Jumbos are #12 in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America poll.
Heller picked up the first points of his collegiate career as the Continentals snapped a four-game losing streak to Tufts (5-3-1, 3-2-1 NESCAC).
Both goals in regulation came on penalty kicks. The Jumbos got on the board first. With 7:42 left in the half, sophomore Dexter Eichhorst was taken down in the box and a penalty kick was awarded. Senior Connor Schaible made the initial attempt which was saved by Hamilton junior goalkeeper Harris Pollack. However, the try was waved off when the referee ruled that it was taken after he began issuing a yellow card. Sophomore Scott Sclar stepped in to take the follow-up and sent his try past Pollack's right for his first goal of the season.
The Jumbos maintained the lead until the 82nd minute when senior Erich Marcks was awarded a penalty kick after being fouled in the box by Tufts goalkeeper Scott Greenwood. Marcks buried the attempt - the first of his career - to tie the game. The goal was the fifth of his career.
Greenwood made a key save in the 29th minute, leaping to push a close range shot by Talsania over the cross bar. The ensuing corner kick gave the Continentals another chance, but a header by sophomore Eli Morris went wide.
The Jumbos had the only real scoring opportunity the rest of regulation, but a long shot by Tyler Kulscar off a restart went wide right with 12 seconds left.
Midway through the second extra session Tufts was awarded a corner kick that Rui Pinheiro sent in front of the Hamilton net. Sterling Weatherbie headed the ball wide of the net and the Jumbos were whistled for an offsides violation, setting up the Continentals' winning effort.
Tufts will regroup during the week and prepare for Middlebury at home on Saturday at 11 am. Hamilton plays a non-conference game Tuesday, traveling to Ithaca for a 4:30 pm game.
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