TIFFIN, Ohio — It was a heartbreaking end to the season for the Marietta College men's soccer team Tuesday (Nov. 3) afternoon. Heidelberg University downed the Pioneers 2-1 in double overtime advancing to the semifinals of the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament.
"We battled with everything we had, but today it wasn't enough," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "As a program we are gutted. But we must learn from this defeat. The future is bright for this program and we are making significant strides."
Marietta ends the 2015 season with a 9-10-1 overall record. The Student Princes improve to 7-8-5 on the season and will play at No. 1 seed Ohio Northern University on Thursday.
After battling to a scoreless tie at halftime,
Adam Fox (Charleston, W.Va./Charleston Catholic) put the Pioneers in front with an unassisted goal in the 48th minute. Fox went upper 90 from inside the 18-yard box for his third goal of the season.
The roles were reversed from the regular season match between these two rivals. In that match, Heidelberg scored early and the Pioneers scored late to send things into overtime.
This time it was the Student Princes scrambling for the equalizer. They would get it in the 84th minute. Chris Koczak's shot was blocked by the Marietta defense, but MC's clearance attempt deflected off another Pioneer and into the net for an own goal.
Neither team managed a shot on goal in the first overtime period. With time winding down in the second extra period and penalty kicks looming, Heidelberg's Ryan Homoki fired a shot that deflected off a Marietta defender and slipped past the keeper for the game winner. Homoki's goal with just 1:45 left in the period was his third of the season.
Tyler Sholl (Johnstown, Ohio/Big Walnut) went the distance in goal for the Pioneers recording five saves. Alex Archambeau made two saves in goal for the Student Princes.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
