WASHINGTON - The American University men's soccer team scored two goals in a three-minute span to tie the Patriot League semifinal match 2-2 on Tuesday afternoon, but a successful penalty kick in overtime from Lafayette ended American's hopes of advancing in the tournament. It was a chaotic contest that included 32 fouls, 11 yellow cards, two red cards, and three penalty kicks.
Notable
- AU's two goals came on penalty kicks, both from Troy Elgersma. The senior captain took eight shots for American throughout the game, while Chris Sullivan took five, and Mustapha Sowe took three.
- The Eagles outshot Lafayette 23 to 12, putting eight shots on goal to just four for the visitors. AU also generated six corners to zero for the visitors.
- Defenders Jonah Fogel, Ian Webb-Johnson, Kobe Keomany, Finn O'Brien, and midfielder Oliver Snowdon played all 92 minutes.
- Both red cards were given to Lafayette assistant coaches.
- Elgersma finishes his career with 12 goals and 15 assists.
- The Eagles end the season with an 8-8-2 overall record.
How it Happened
- AU was all over Lafayette in the first half, spending the majority of the 45 minutes in Lafayette's half. The Eagles outshot the Leopards 13 to four and forced Eric Axtman to make six saves, but couldn't find the back of the net.
- The home side's best chance of the half came on free kick in the 13th minute. Garces played a quality ball into the box for a streaking Elgersma, who touched his one-time shot just wide of the frame.
- The match became more level in the opening minutes of the second half, with possession being shared in the middle of the pitch. The physicality of the contest continued, with seven fouls called before the Leopards eventually took the lead.
- In the 67th minute, Samir Dishnica played his free kick to Nicholas Liebich. The defender floated a ball into the box that fell to Joseph Lee, who slid a shot home to the bottom right corner.
- Less than a minute later, the visitors doubled their lead. It was Dishnica scoring this time, firing a shot to the bottom right corner from outside the box in the run of play. In a flash, Lafayette had a 2-0 lead with 22 minutes remaining.
- American kept the ball in Lafayette's half for the majority of the time remaining, but could not create any threatening chances. It wasn't until the 87th minute that the Eagles were rewarded.
- After a corner kick was put in the box by Toshi Davis, Ian Webb-Johnson took contact in the box from Axtman. The head official called for a VAR review, and AU was awarded a penalty kick. Elgersma took it, and buried his try to the bottom left side.
- With new life, the Eagles through numbers forward in search for a late equalizer. Just two minutes and 35 seconds after the first PK, AU was awarded another. Reyes Parra beat his defender on the far left side of the box, forcing a foul from Oliver Gordon.
- Elgersma stepped to the spot again and skillfully placed his try into the top left corner of the net, giving Axtman no chance.
- The final 1:10 ticked off, and the match headed to overtime.
- The extra period was short-lived, with a penalty being awarded to Lafayette just before two minutes went by. Axtman lofted a free kick from Lafayette's half into the box, and Garces got tangled up with Liebich to concede the foul.
- Dishnica took the penalty kick, putting it in on the bottom right to win the game.
