Since before the start of the season, head coach Brad Hauter said he wanted his DePauw men's soccer team on the national map.
There's no doubt about that anymore.
On Friday in the NCAA Div. III championship first round, the Tigers dispatched two-time runner-up to the national title, Calvin College, 3-0. In the second round, however, the No. 9 team in the country, Dominican University, converted on a long shot opportunity to send DePauw home in overtime, 2-1.
While the second round exit was disappointing to Hauter who had his sights set on the program's first national title, he was pleased with the season and the team's progress overall after exiting in the first round of the NCAA playoffs last year.
"It's bittersweet," he said. "If you look at the ties or losses we had this season, we weren't outplayed by anyone. I absolutely loved this team, and I'm proud of how we made it to the round of 32. The bitter part is we did not advance to the sweet 16."
Against Calvin (16-4-1), the Tigers attacked early and often. Thirty seconds after the opening whistle, sophomore Andy Morrison sent a cross into the box that was first punched out by the goalkeeper. However, he didn't clear it all the way out, and freshman Alieu Musa headed the ball into the net.
DePauw kept up the pressure, and in the 20th minute, Morrison let off a powerful shot that the Calvin goalkeeper again blocked, but the ball rolled out in front of him. Freshman Adrian Ables sprinted in and tapped the ball into the net for a quick, 2-0 lead.
In the second half, it was all Tigers again as Morrison curled in from the left side, cut back inside to beat his defender, and then unleashed a shot with his left foot to the far post, 3-0.
"It was a solid performance by our guys," Hauter said. "The result last year against Case Western left a bitter taste in our mouth, and we were clicking on all cylinders."
While the win was savored, DePauw lost two of its top scorers for the second round. Ables was shown a red card in the 69th minute for an apparent dangerous challenged that caused Calvin goalkeeper Jared Rushlau to be taken out of the game.
Hauter appealed the call vehemently, but to no avail.
"It was a complete error by the officials," he said. "They threw a yellow card at Adrian, and then he turned it into a red because he saw how serious the injury was. There was no justification for the first, and no justification on the second. It was their own defender that stepped on him. It was just the goalkeeper and the defender colliding."
Also, sophomore forward Nate Snyder suffered a high ankle sprain during the game. Two of the Tigers' top four scorers were out for round No. 2.
"I had complete faith in our guys," Hauter said. "We have great depth, and we don't bring a guy to this level and if they can't compete."
DePauw went down early against Dominican (18-2-1) when the defense was beat down the left sideline and a cross came into the box. The Stars didn't miss a chance to connect, and put the Tigers down, 1-0.
"A momentary lapse and that cost us the goal," Hauter said. "There was no panic and they came back, and when Dominican had a lapse, we capitalized."
In the 29th minute, junior Matt Reda sent a pass through the defense that found freshman Jon Krok. Krok shot to the far post past the goal for the equalizing score, and his first collegiate goal.
For the rest of the match, Hauter described it as two heavy-weights fighting in a rink - exchanging blows and taking many chances on offense. The chances created counter-attack opportunities, but neither team could connect.
"[Dominican] is a really sold technical team," Hauter said. "They don't have too many players who can't execute - their skill level is very high and they are a very aggressive, fast-paced team."
In the first overtime, it was a long shot opportunity that evaded DePauw's senior goalkeeper, Tony Halterman. About 35 yards out, Trent Miller lifted a shot just past the reach of Halterman.
"It was disappointing to not get pressure on him, and he hit the one," Hauter said. "You have to tip your hat to him, for him to pull off the shot, it's heroic."
The Tigers ended their season 14-2-5, and the senior class finishes their four years tied for second in all-time wins (56). It also tied for second in least all-time losses (12).