The men’s soccer team’s amazing season ended in memorable fashion Friday night. Unfortunately for the Bulldog players and fans, the memory was not quite what they were hoping for.
After playing 90 minutes of even soccer, Stony Brook (13-4-4) scored quickly in the first overtime to top Yale (10-4-4, 5-1-1 Ivy), 2-1, in the first round of the NCAA College Cup in New Haven. The Elis’ inability to hold onto an early lead and capitalize on second half scoring chances opened the door for the Seawolves to steal the game.
“It is tough to end in this fashion,” Yale head coach Brian Tompkins said. “We had so many scoring opportunities, but the name of the game is execution and we weren’t able to take advantage of our good play.”
Forward Gage Hills ’07 opened up the scoring with a quick goal three minutes into the game. After failing to equalize in the first half, Stony Brook knotted the game 1-1 early in the second half off the foot of Tamer Mohamed.
The Bulldogs dominated the rest of possession in the second frame, creating scoring chance after scoring chance. But a combination of misfires and great saves by Stony Brook’s EJ Xikis prohibited Yale from taking control of the game.
Three minutes into the first overtime Stony Brook’s Adam Ciklic ended the Bulldog run with a header that went past Yale keeper Erik Geiger ’08.
The Seawolves travel to Storrs Nov. 22 to face No. 8 UConn in the second-round.