BANGOR- Freshman Will Feldman scored 4:49 into the first overtime period on Saturday, giving the Husson Eagles a 1-0 win over the SUNY-Delhi Broncos in the men’s soccer North Atlantic Conference Championship game at Boucher Field.
Husson (15-3-1) dominated regulation, outchancing SUNY-Delhi 23-3 on attempted shots (6-1 on goal) and had a 6-2 advantage on corner opportunities. Broncos goaltender Jonathan Walch though kept them all out through 90 minutes. The two best chances by the Eagles in the first half came off a free kick that was headed by Pedro Molina and went high and over the goal, and also by Alejando Mora that was stopped by Walch. Patricio Reygadas had a breakaway on Walch with 23 minutes left to play in regulation, but again the keeper came up with a huge save. Michael Williams Jr. then had a look for the guests on Husson goalie Alex Rechsteiner with just over four minutes remaining, but Rechsteiner who looked to be beaten made a spectacular diving stop from left to right to send the game to overtime.
North Atlantic Conference postseason overtime rules is no longer golden goal (first team to score). There are two, 10-minute periods and then if the game is still tied then penalty kicks will decide the winner. Feldman did his best to decide it, assisted by Carlos Etchevers almost five minutes into the first extra period. Feldman was able to beat Walch with a curling shot from the left side of the box that found the net just inside the left post. SUNY-Delhi had their last chance with just over a minute left in the second overtime when Sinas Bouzikos broke in partially on Rechsteiner, who again made a spectacular diving stop to preserve the lead and ultimately the conference championship for Husson.
Rechsteiner made two saves in the win. The NAC Title for Husson is the first one since 2014, and the fourth in program history. The Eagles have also now won eight games in a row. The West champion SUNY-Delhi ends their season at 10-7-2, and Walch ended up with six saves and several great ones to keep his team in it. Husson will await word on where they’re headed and their opponent when the NCAA selects the Division III Tournament field on Monday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. Here is the All-Tournament team selected by the NAC at the conclusion of the contest-
Thomas College- Senior forward Eric LaBrie, Sophomore forward Joshua Joseph
SUNY-Poly- Sophomore midfield Abus Mohamed-Ali, Freshman midfield Kevin Ryan
SUNY-Delhi- Junior goalie Jonathan Walch, Sophomore forward Michael Williams Jr., Junior midfield Anthony Cuellar
Husson- Sophomore goalie Alex Rechsteiner, Junior midfield Mosi Masimango, Freshman midfield Miguel Morales, Sophomore midfield Mario Alvarez *Alvarez was named Tournament MVP
Photo above is courtesy of Jacob Ireland
