Box Score The Ashland University men's soccer lost a heartbreaker on Friday (Oct. 5) night as Enrique Serna's free kick goal in the second overtime gave Purdue Northwest a 1-0 win at Ferguson Field.
Other than a few brief periods, the Eagles (2-8-1, 1-6 GLIAC) were the dominant side throughout the game, holding possession and consistently threatening with opportunities inside the Purdue Northwest penalty area.
"We can't fault their effort, it's just that last little bit of execution," said AU head coach Oliver Slawson. "Our effort, attitude and application were first class, but we've got to put a ball in the back of the net."
Purdue Northwest goalkeeper Bradley Brack made several incredible saves and finished with eight on the night as he miraculously kept the Eagles out of the net on multiple occasions in regulation.
"Their keeper was the man of the match," said Slawson. "He pulled off three, four or five unbelievable saves. We can't make excuses for that. This time of year there's no such thing as a moral victory. We can't walk away after taking 20 shots and 10 corners, playing the whole game in their box and be on the end of a losing result."
In the first half, junior Andrew Pearson picked out redshirt-freshman Kieran Paterson with a perfect 30-yard cross to the back post, but Brack tipped Paterson's header off the crossbar, then swatted the rebound off the goal line.
The Eagles had another golden chance later in the half, but a shot by sophomore Jackson Crawford was saved off the line by a PNW defender.
Sophomore Justin Libertowski caught Brack leaning the wrong way in the second half, but the Pride's keeper got down just in time to deflect it away.
The teams took a scoreless game into the second overtime when Purdue Northwest won a free kick just outside the AU penalty area. Serna's left-footed arcing strike from near the corner of the area dropped inside the upper 90 at the back post to send the Pride to sudden victory.
Ashland held a 21-8 margin in shots and led in corner kicks, 11-4.
Sophomore goalkeeper Dimitrius Karousos made four saves for the Eagles.
The Eagles will look for three points on Sunday (Oct. 7) when they play host to reigning GLIAC Tournament champion Davenport at Ferguson Field. Kickoff is set for 3 p.m.
AU
MSOC/BB
