SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – A go-ahead goal midway through the second half by sophomore Adam Hunt was not enough to lift the Spring Arbor University men's soccer team past Indiana Wesleyan University on Wednesday night. The No. 9 Wildcats would find the equalizer in the 87th minute before netting the game-winner in double overtime to clinch its third straight Crossroads League regular season title.
The loss dropped the Cougars to 10-3-4 on the year and 3-2-3 in the conference while Indiana Wesleyan improved its record to 14-1 and remained perfect in league play, moving to 8-0.
Before the match, the Cougars honored their eight seniors – Billy Irvine, Kyle Hudson, Brendan Bell, Riley Luttenton, Josiah Weber, Sean Cook, Jacob Flanigan and Tanner Mitchell – for all their hard work and dedication to the program over the past four years.
After a first half that saw both teams feeling each other out, the intensity picked up in the second. The visiting Wildcats began to take control of the match, creating several chances through the first 20 minutes of the period, but Irvine would make several big stops to keep the score locked at 0-0.
The momentum shifted in the 68th minute when a Wildcat miscue deep in their own zone resulted in the go-ahead score for the Cougars. An IWU defender made a dangerous pass back to the keeper, and a hustling Hunt would take the ball off his feet and walk it into the goal, sending the home fans into a frenzy.
However, just moments before securing the biggest win of the season and upsetting a Top-10 team for the second consecutive season, IWU's Cory Lopez headed a shot to the far post past Irvine in the 88th minute to tie the score and send the match to overtime.
After a scoreless first extra session, Indiana Wesleyan would complete the comeback on a golden goal from Lopez, whose bicycle kick beat Irvine to the far post, in the 105th minute.
"I'm extremely proud of the guys for that effort," said head coach Nathan Miller. "It was evident to everyone how committed they were and so disciplined. That was a great response after a really bad weekend. There are no moral victories for sure, but we have the utmost confidence of what we are heading into the tournament. These seniors are a special group and I believe they were honored with a great effort and an epic match."
Currently in fifth place in the conference standings, Spring Arbor will look to improve its position as it concludes the regular season slate with a trip to the University of Saint Francis (8-8, 2-6 Crossroads League) on Saturday, Oct. 25. Kickoff is scheduled for 4 p.m.
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