Saint Xavier Tops Men’s Soccer on Overtime Own Goal

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DETROIT — Marygrove men’s soccer ended a hard-fought overtime game in a shocking 1-0 defeat at the hands of the visiting Saint Xavier Cougars (3-2-0) on Saturday (Sept. 12) in Detroit after the non-conference tilt was decided by an unlucky play in the 92nd minute.

The Mustangs (1-4-0) now turn their attention toward Saginaw Valley State University – the sixth-ranked team in NCAA Division II – as the team’s meet for the fifth straight season Sunday (Sept. 13) at 3:30 p.m.

On Saturday at home, Mustangs were held scoreless for the third straight game – the first three-game goalless stretch in non-conference action since the opening three games in program history back in 2009.

Despite tallying more shots and more chances on target, the Mustangs fell in overtime off of an unlucky play that ended in an own-goal when the Cougars’ played a cross in that went off a Green and Gold defender and in the net. The own-goal was the game’s golden goal, allowing the visiting Cougars to steal a 1-0 victory in Detroit.

Gbenga Ayanwale (Osun State, Nigeria/Atanda International), Gonzalo Caceres (Detroit, Mich./Southwestern High School) and Abdoulie Jallow (Bansang, The Gambia/Rust College) all had solid looks on net throughout the game but could not find a way past Cougar keeper Frank Valle.

The Mustangs had the best chance to end the game in regulation when a foul was called in the box on the Cougar defense with only 25 seconds remaining in the contest. The Mustangs’ [Gonzalo] Caceres toed the PK line seconds later, but was stuffed by Valle, sending the game to overtime where the Cougars rode their new-found momentum to victory.

The Mustangs outshot the Cougars, 11-9, including a 6-4 edge on target while also walking away with the corner kick advantage, 6-4.

Austin Valentine (Westland, Mich./Concordia-Ann Arbor) saved three shots on a rather pedestrian day as the junior keeper was rarely challenged thanks to a well-organized Mustangs defense.

MEN’S SOCCER CONTACT: Tim Johnston | [email protected]/* */ | @tjohnston56
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