Statesmen Snatch Double-OT Win from Mustangs
William Penn University Athletics
by Wade Steinlage
Cedar Rapids–Amgad Hassan (Jr., Falls Church, Va., Computer Science) put the game-winner away with just 59 seconds left in the second overtime period as the William Penn men’s soccer team overcame a sluggish offensive performance to defeat Mount Mercy 2-1 in Heart of America Athletic Conference action Wednesday.
With the triumph, WPU (10-3, 5-2 Heart) has reached double-digit victories for the second year in a row and sixth time in school history. With five regular-season contests left, the squad has drawn to within one of tying the school record for single-season victories.
The program, which also matched its best seven-game league start, was nearly doubled up in shots at 17-9, including a 7-3 deficit at halftime. Fortunately, the Statesmen turned away every chance and the contest was knotted in a scoreless tie at intermission.
The host Mustangs (6-4-3, 2-4-1 Heart) were first to finally break through, however, putting their lone goal on the board in the 55th minute.
William Penn, despite again falling short in shots in the latter stanza (7-2), recorded the equalizer at the 66:38 juncture when Victor Hernandez (Jr., Los Angeles, Calif., Exercise Science) scored off a pass from Luis Amezquita (Jr., Inglewood, Calif., Sociology). The goal is Hernandez’s team-best fifth of 2018, while Amezquita now has three assists this season.
Neither team could break the tie, forcing overtime–the fourth of the year and second in eight days for WPU. Both sides tallied two shots in the first OT with nothing coming of those chances.
Then in the final extra session, two more attempts were taken–one by each side–before Hassan notched the ‘walk-off’ goal in the final minute of action. It is his third goal this season. Shalon Knight (Fr., Swetes Village, Antigua) was credited with the assist, his second of the campaign.
Hernandez and Kenedy Deviska (Fr., Haiti, Wellness and Recreation) paced the offense with two shots apiece, while Austin Munoz (Jr., Harrisville, Utah, Sports Management) stopped seven Mount Mercy tries.
“We found a way to get a win tonight,” Head Coach Jaymee Highcock said. “We changed our formation and looked solid and hard to play against throughout. Unfortunately, we lacked a cutting edge in the attack, but overall I thought we played well. A moment of individual brilliance secured a good road win. We will look for number 11 this Saturday for Homecoming.”
Next Up: William Penn returns home Saturday to host #16 Benedictine in Heart play at 1 p.m.
