Jeff Light vs. Goucher 10/15/16
0
Vassar VAS (14-4-2)
1
Winner Elizabethtown ETOWN (14-3-2)
Vassar VAS
(14-4-2)
0
Final
1
Elizabethtown ETOWN
(14-3-2)
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT 1 F
Vassar VAS 0 0 0 0
Elizabethtown ETOWN 0 0 1 1

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

MSOC advances to NCAA Second Round on Light's overtime winner

Game Replay (Goal sequence begins at 1:20.45)

NEWARK, N.J. -- Jeff Light's shot in the 95th minute Saturday in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Championship navigated its way between multiple bodies before finding the right side of the net.

The golden goal elevated Elizabethtown to a 1-0 overtime victory over 19th-ranked Vassar College and into the Second Round of the NCAA tournament for the first time since 2004.

An even first half that produced six shots for both the Landmark runner-up Blue Jays (14-3-2) and Liberty League champion Brewers (14-4-2) yielded no goals, though it was not without drama.

E-town freshman midfielder Duncan George's header was destined for the goal in the 4th minute, but Vassar defender Hayden Van Brewer was there to bail out keeper Matt Marcelino and keep the game scoreless.

Less than a minute later, E-town keeper Ryan Sandell was tested for the first time. Sandell extended to his left to rob Reid Smith's header.

The two sides, meeting for the first time, would settle in thereafter.

Sandell made another save on Tyler Gilmore in the 27th minute. Marcelino countered by stopping Blue Jays' leading scorer and Landmark Offensive Player of the Year, Gilbert Waso, in the 35th.

As neutral as the first 45 minutes were, the final 45 of regulation were anything but. The Brewers put the Blue Jays on their heels, outshooting them 9-1.

Vassar's offensive onslaught almost got the best of E-town in the 53rd minute when Matt Fields diving header caught Sandell out of position. Geoge was there to keep it out in yet another hair-raising moment.

Despite the lopsided second half numbers, E-town did what it needed to do, getting to the horn unscathed.

Light and the Blue Jays were determined not to let Vassar dictate overtime. Elizabethtown's senior all-conference forward had a shot go wide just 1:26 into the extra session, before a harmless play in the midfield turned opportunistic.

Mitchell Gochnauer played Light out on the left flank from just beyond midfield in the 95th minute. Light used his burners to advance towards the goal, but the Brewers' defense retreated until it was too late. Light finally let his shot go at the left side of the 6-yard box and it skidded through players from both teams for the game-winning goal.

For Light, it was goal number six on the season. For the Blue Jays, it was their first national tournament victory since defeating Drew, 2-0, in a First Round game on Nov. 10, 2004.

Sandell stopped five shots for his fourth shutout of the season.

Vassar did its best to contain Waso, holding him to just one shot. Light led the Jays with three and JD Haaf had two. The Brewers held a 15-9 edge overall and created seven corners to the Jays' four.

Saturday's win gives Elizabethtown, unranked in the NSCAA National Poll and 22nd in the D3soccer.com Top 25, a shot at a second consecutive win over an NSCAA-ranked team Sunday. The Blue Jays will face host Rutgers-Newark, the No. 10 team in the nation, at 5 p.m. in a Second Round game.
 
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