Overtime Goal Hands Geneva First Loss
Beaver Falls, PA – Merriman complex was host to a high energy soccer match that ended in an overtime victory for the away squad. The overtime momentum proved just enough for the Fredonia State Blue Devils to push past the Golden Tornadoes 2-1 for their first loss of the season. Geneva will move on with their season at 4-1 while the Blue Devils walk away with a 5-1 record. The upset was the first home loss for the Golden Tornadoes since being downed by Oberlin 4-0 in September of last year.
Luke Nolan proved his composure early in the game when he saved a Fredonia penalty kick in the opening minutes of the game preventing the first real threat of either team on goal. Senior defender Gib McCracken gave the best Geneva effort five minutes later with his diving header to the far post that was barely tipped away by the Blue Devil goalkeeper.
The second half proved just as intense as both teams exchanged shots and fouls early to keep the intensity high. Both goalkeepers remained active throughout the match to help eliminate opportunities before they could develop on crosses and break-away attempts.
Fredonia tipped the scale in their favor when they converted a long shot from outside the box for the 1-0 score in the final fifteen minutes.
As the clock wound down to the final two minutes of regulation, senior forward Abel Carleton drilled a shot on frame that was deflected away to the feet of senior defender Ben Shoemaker. Shoemaker made it look easy as his composure held strong, giving him clarity to place the ball in the net to tie the game at 1-1.
Just a minute into overtime, the Blue Devils returned the deflected goal favor and scored their own game winner after their first shot attempt was deflected to end the emotional contest.
Geneva outshot Fredonia 15-12 and held the corner kick advantage 8-1. Both keepers walked away with three saves.
Geneva will look for redemption on Monday as they face off against the visiting Franciscan University Barons at 7:00 p.m.
Geneva College is a Christ-centered academic community that provides a comprehensive education to equip students for faithful and fruitful service to God and neighbor. Offering over 40 traditional undergraduate majors and programs, Adult Degree Programs with fully online and classroom options, and high-demand graduate degrees, Geneva's programs are recognized for their high quality. U.S. News & World Report ranks Geneva as a Top Three Best Value Regional University with one of the Top 100 engineering programs in the nation. Adhering to the truth of Scripture, a Geneva education is grounded in God's Word as well as in a core curriculum designed to prepare students vocationally to think, write and communicate well in today's world.
