Senior Sam Meyer had two shots on goal in the NCAC semi-final game. Against a tough Hiram College defense, shots were at a premium.
All he needed was one to go in during overtime.
The DePauw men's soccer team, after being outshot 16-1 and surrendering a game-tying goal in the second half, won its sixth overtime game of the season last night against the Hiram College Terriers on a game-winning goal from Meyer. The win advanced the team to the conference championship against Ohio Wesleyan University.
The Tigers opened up the scoring with a rocket from Matt Schoenfield in the first half from outside the 18-yard box that established an early lead for DePauw.
"It was a huge emotional shift in the game, not that it was just an early goal but it was a bomb," said head coach Brad Hauter. "It deflated them and it elevated us."
After the Tiger's scored a goal for a 1-0 lead, the Terriers stepped up the pressure on offense. Senior goal keeper Nate Sprenkel was constantly peppered by shots from Hiram in the second half, saving all but one.
When the game proceeded into overtime with the score knotted at 1-1, Hauter felt confident the Tigers could win despite being dominated in shots and possession time in the second half.
"We just weren't playing our game. I felt like we weren't marking up and we weren't connecting passes," Hauter said. "When we get to overtime we feel pretty comfortable. I don't like the way we got to overtime, but this team just will not lose.
In overtime, Meyer was determined he could put the game away.
"I was telling my team give me one chance, give me one time," Meyer said. "And I'm going to end this game."
Meyer got that chance.
Senior Alex Johnson sent the ball over towards the DePauw sideline in Hiram's half to sophomore midfielder Ben Hazen. Hazen collected the pass close to the goal line with the Terriers scrambling to get back.
Hazen sent the cross in low and Meyer, one-on-one with the goalkeeper, put it in the net to send the Tiger's to its first NCAC championship game.
"It's just amazing that we have come this far, making it to the conference title," Meyer said. "Now we are trying to leave our mark on the NCAC and our mark on DePauw."
Winning the NCAC title would earn an automatic NCAA Div. III playoff bid for the Tigers. They will travel to Ohio Wesleyan University on Saturday at 5 p.m. for the conference title game. The Ohio Wesleyan Battling Bishops defeated Allegheny College 4-1 Wednesday evening on the other side of the tournament bracket.
DePauw's only loss in the NCAC came to the Battling Bishops at home at Boswell field by a score of 1-0. The NCAC final will be broadcasted live on 91.5 WGRE.