WATERVILLE, Maine — The Husson University men's soccer team battled Thomas College to a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes before the Terriers prevailed 6-5 in a penalty shootout to claim the North Atlantic Conference championship Saturday afternoon.
The Eagles generated several early opportunities, with sophomore Cesar Soucre recording two attempts in the opening 14 minutes before sophomore Jorge Mora forced Thomas goalkeeper Jamie Fischer into a save in the 20th minute.
Husson broke through in the 35th minute when sophomore Miguel Diaz Alvarez scored off an assist from senior Wessel Eldering at 34:57. The goal was Diaz Alvarez's 14th of the season and gave the Eagles a 1-0 advantage.
Diaz Alvarez nearly doubled the lead four minutes later, sending an attempt off the left post. Junior Jamie Barr followed with a save on Thomas' Adam Elkott in the 40th minute, while sophomore Lorenzo Ceruti had an attempt cleared by the Terriers' defense in the closing minutes of the half.
Husson carried its 1-0 lead into halftime after holding a 10-7 advantage in shots over the opening 45 minutes.
Thomas increased its pressure after the break, but the Eagles held their advantage behind a team save in the 51st minute and two Barr stops on attempts from David Ivarsson. The Terriers eventually pulled even at 63:22 when Ivarsson scored an unassisted goal to make it 1-1.
The Eagles continued to search for the go-ahead goal, with Diaz Alvarez forcing Fischer into saves in the 68th and 72nd minutes. Neither team could break the tie over the remainder of regulation, sending the championship match into overtime.
Senior Edwin Cruz tested Fischer in the 94th minute before Barr answered with a save on Ivarsson just 16 seconds later. Barr added another stop on Cody Robinson in the 98th minute, and Mora sent an attempt high in the final minute of the first overtime period.
Husson kept Thomas off the scoreboard through the second overtime period, sending the title match to a penalty shootout.
Sophomore Chadi Hamadi, junior Tibo Desorme and Soucre converted Husson's first three attempts as the Eagles built a 3-2 shootout advantage. Thomas pulled even in the fourth round before freshman Santiago Jimenez and Fischer each converted in the fifth to extend the shootout.
Mora scored in the sixth round, with Thomas answering to keep the teams level at 5-5. The Terriers secured the championship in the seventh round when Tsyi Showers converted following an unsuccessful Husson attempt.
Barr finished with five saves over 110 minutes, while the Eagles also recorded a team save. Diaz Alvarez led Husson with seven shots, including three on goal. Cruz, Mora and Ceruti each added two shots and one attempt on target.
Thomas finished with a 22-18 advantage in shots and a 7-6 edge in shots on goal. The Terriers also held a 5-2 advantage in corner kicks.
The match officially goes down as a tie, with Husson concluding its season at 8-7-3 overall after finishing 6-1-1 in NAC play.
