COLUMBIA, Ky. - The No. 19 Southeastern men's soccer team battled back from a 3-0 deficit to force two overtime periods and sent the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round match versus John Brown into a penalty kick shootout this Friday night. Unfortunately, the Fire season ended with a 5-3 loss on penalty kicks to the Golden Eagles.
With just over a minute into play, the Fire registered the first shot of the game as graduate-student, Banabas Ganidekam forced goalkeeper Britt Wisener to make a crucial save to keep the game scoreless.
It didn't take long for the Golden Eagles to get on the board, as they took a 1-0 lead with four minutes into play. A cross by Oscar Caballo found Jacob Zamarron in the box, who then shot the ball in the upper right corner of the goal. Zamarron has obtained 25 goals on the season.
Freshman and Player of the Year in the Sooner Athletic Conference, Carballo scored the second goal for the Golden Eagles after receiving a cross by Amilcar Gonzalez. Carballo fired his shot in the left lower corner of the net. In seven minutes of play, John Brown recorded two shots and two goals.
Southeastern had another close opportunity in the 17th minute, as a shot by Ganidekam just went wide of the goal.
Shortly after, the Golden Eagles were close to advancing their lead to three but freshman goalkeeper Carlos Cuardo came out of his box and made a vital save for the Fire to keep the game at two.
With 13 minutes remaining, Kevin Omondi would attack space in the middle of the field and lay it off to the right for Gonzalez, whose shot found the back of the net, advancing JBU's lead to 3-0.
The Fire scored their first goal of the game with three minutes remaining in the first frame. A long ball from the midfield by Ben-Avir Espinal found Ganidekam, who beat JBU goalkeeper to cut the deficit to two.
At halftime, the Golden Eagles held a 3-1 advantage over the Fire.
Returning from the break, Southeastern was looking for redemption following the first half. The game remained 3-1 until the 74th minute, when Ganidekam scored his second of the game. Ganidekam regained possession at the top of the box, and launched the ball past JBU goalkeeper to decrease the Fire's deficit to one.
1:22 minute later, graduate midfield Chase Hovious would even up the game at 3-3, as a cross from the right side of the field by Jake Van Der Luit found the head of Hovious, and ended up in the back of the net.
Southeastern fought back from a 3-0 deficit to tie the game up at three all with 14 minutes remaining in the game.
After regulation time, the game remained 3-3 between the Fire and Golden Eagles. Both teams were headed into two-ten minute golden goal OT's.
In the 98th minute of the game, a foul in the box by an SEU defender gave John Brown the chance to finish out the match. Fortunately for the Fire, the opening goalscorer of the game, Zamarron would shoot with too much power, forcing the ball high.
Right after, SEU had an opportunity as Ganidekam received a ball at the top of the box, and his shot to would go high.
Senior forward Craig Barker saved a ball just off the line to keep the Fire in the game, and take them into the second overtime.
After 110 minutes of playing, the Fire and Golden Eagles headed into penalty kick shootout to decide who would advance in the NAIA National Tournament.
In the penalty kicks, the Fire missed their second, and all five of John Brown penalty takers netted their shots, finishing the game 5-3 in PKs.
Southeastern finished their season with a 11-5-4 record. The Fire advanced to the National Tournament for the third time in program history.
