Box Score
SAN ANTONIO -- Williams College scored the game's first goal in the 9th minute, but Ohio Northern Unviersity scored three unanswered goals to down Williams 3-2 in the NCAA Semifinal contest played in 75 degree weather.
With the loss the Ephs end their season with a record of 16-2-4, while Ohio Northern improved to 25-2 and extended their win streak to 18.
Patrick Ebobisse dug the ball off the sideline in front of the Eph bench and fed a hard charging User Kushaina who was able to roll a hard shot past the onrushing ONU goalie Mac Church to give Williams a 1-0 lead at 8:52.
Just over six minutes later Ohio Northern tied the contest when Cameron Johsnon connected with Nate Bascom in the box to the left of Finan and Bascom delivered the ball into the net to the left of Finan at 15:04. "I thought their two wingers, Bascom and [Keegan] Ross were the two most dangerous wingers we faced this year," said Eph head coach Mike Russo. "They are fast and they have the ability to slice through the defenders."
Finan was, however, somehow able to keep the game at one all when he denied two ONU shots from in close in 12 seconds in the 30th minute. The first shot by Keegan Ross struck Finan in the chest and Chris Majetka's folloow-up was denied by the right arm of Finan, before Ross again shot wide.
The teams went to halftime with the scored tied at one. Finan recorded four saves and Church three.
Ohio Northern took the lead early in the second half when Bascom sent a ball through the Eph backline to Jeremy Barnes, Barnes was in too close when he recevied the ball to allow Finan to react and ONU led 2-1 at 51:43.
Two minutes later the Ephs almost had the equalizer when Mike Madding crushed a shot from the top right of the box that forced Church to smother it with a dive to his left. On their next trip down the field the Ephs had Mohammed Rashid loose on the left endline, but when he tried to cross the ball it hit the side of the net.
In the 72nd minute Chris Matejka threatened when he flicked on a Bascom pass, but Finan was postioned perfectly for the denial.
With just 16 minutes remaining Russo sent defender Matt Raratjczak forward to attack and the senior captain alomost netted the leveler in the 76th minute, but his shot went just outside of the far post.
Off a short corner by Chris Matejka to Austin Windsor the Polar Bears upped their lead to two. Matejka hit Windsor near the top left of the box and when the Eph defender anticipated a return pass to Matejka, Windsor stepped inside and blasted a hard rolling shot that just curled inside the near post.
The Ephs got a goal back with just under two minutes to play when Patrick Ebobisse recorded his second assist setting up Peter Christman for a rocket from the left side of the box.
ONU was able to deny the Ephs any serious scoring atempts the rest of the way as they advanced to the championship tilt tomorrow vs. Messiah.
In 81:49 Than Finan made eight saves and allowed three goals. Peter Morrell was not called on to make a save in his 8:11. Mac Church made six saves on the day in collecting the win.
"I think Ohio Northern was the most dangerous team we faced this year in the attacking third of the field," said Russo. "I told the boys to not let this result diminish their accomplisments this season. They did everything we asked of them and they over-achieved."
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| Peter Christman '13 |
Than Finan '13 |
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| Patrick Ebobisse '13 |
Matt Ratajczak '13 |
NCAA Division III All-Tournament Team
F - User Kushaina (Jr.), Williams
M - Patrick Ebobisse (Sr.), Williams
D - Dan Figura (Jr.), Loras
M - Kevin Cavers (Jr.), Loras
M - Shintaroh Itoh (Fr.), Ohio Northern
D - Austin Windsor (Sr.), Ohio Northern
F - Nate Bascom (Sr.), Ohio Northern
GK - Brandon West (So.), Messiah
F - Jack Thompson (So.), Messiah
M - Jeremy Payne (So.), Messiah
F - Mike Kovach (So.), Messiah - Offensive MVP
D - Logan Thompson (Sr.), Messiah - Defensive MVP
