BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Lindsey Wilson men's soccer team fell in a shootout 5-3 to Campbellsville (Ky.) in the Mid-South Conference Championship match on Friday night at Jim Ross Field at Warren East High School.
After a 110-minute scoreless tie, the game went to spot kicks to determine the conference championship.
During the first round of kicks, Campbellsville (15-0-3) made the first shot while the Blue Raiders (13-4-2) saw their attempt saved. That would be the difference maker as the Tigers went on to make every ensuing attempt, including the clincher when Pak Hei Chan delivered the winning kick for Campbellsville in the fifth round of PKs.
Lindsey Wilson had ample opportunities to find a game winner throughout the night as the Blue Raiders outshot the Tigers 29-13 overall and 8-4 in shots on goal, but Lindsey Wilson was unable to beat Tiger goalkeeper Gonzalo Sapena.
The opening 45 minutes were fast-paced and physical, with each team creating quality chances in its opponents' final third. Lindsey Wilson fired off 11 shots, four on target, while Campbellsville had five shots, one on target in the first half.
Aleksi Pahkasalo saw multiple shots from distance pushed away by Sapena. Brian Richards also had his close-range shot saved and after Andrew Revanales sped past the defensive back line, he could not get his attempt on target as it went inches wide of the post.
Each team continued to pressure the opposing defense in the second half, but neither side was able to put together a go-ahead goal by the 70th minute.
Stephane Dasse headed a free kick on that nicked the crossbar. Richards spun his defender near the 18-yard box and turned and fired but again Sapena denied with a diving save. Pahksalo had a free kick from 21-yards out, but he was unable to get the ball over the defensive wall.
Each team created chances in the final minutes but neither side was able to convert, sending the game into overtime.
By the end of regulation Lindsey Wilson had outshot the Tigers 21-10 and 7-3 in shots on target. Each side had four corner kicks while there were 24 total fouls.
The Blue Raiders unleashed multiple shots in the first overtime period but the Tiger defense kept throwing bodies in front of the attempts before they could come close to the goal. Alvaro Cortazar had to make a diving one-handed save in the 96th minute to keep things scoreless for Lindsey Wilson.
Campbellsville had the best scoring chance in the second overtime on a free kick that was headed back into the box, but the header by Nathan Heath sailed over the bar as the game ended scoreless and went to penalty kicks.
Campbellsville earns the MSC's automatic bid into the NAIA National Championship Tournament Field with the shootout victory.
Lindsey Wilson must now wait to see if the Blue Raiders receive an at-large bid into the field. The tournament bracket will be released on Monday, Nov. 14.
