David Vargas Masis’ Overtime Strike Sends Eagles Past UNCG
11/5/2012 2:07:11 AM | Men's Soccer
VIDEO: Kevin Kennedy">Post-match interview with Coach Kevin Kennedy
VIDEO: Post-match interview with GK Neal Bates
VIDEO: Post-match interview with MF David Vargas Masis
VIDEO: Post-match celebration after victory
// BOX SCORE (PDF) // UPDATED STATS (PDF) //
STATESBORO, GA. – Georgia Southern Men’s Soccer needed 105 minutes, but the reward was worth the wait as the Eagles took a 2-1 win over UNCG in the first round of the 2012 SoCon Men’s Soccer Tournament. Sophomore David Vargas Masis scored the game-winning goal for the Eagles who move on to the SoCon Tournament Semifinals for the first time since 2008.
“UNC Greensboro is a very talented and dangerous team and we certainly knew that it was going to be a battle after our regular season matchup,” said head coach Kevin Kennedy. “I’m really proud of the guys for showing the perseverance to come back from a goal down. We’re very excited to be moving on. This game shows that every game in the SoCon Tournament is difficult.”
Kickoff for the match was delayed by 1:52 due to a pair of lightning delays. Once play began, varying levels of precipitation continued to fall for the first 10 minutes of the match.
UNCG scored the breakthrough goal in the 25th minute off a corner kick from Maximillion Schulz. The shot by Lukas Zarges from the near side of the box found the net to give the Spartans a 1-0 lead.
Reed Norton brought the Eagles level at 1-1 with 5:57 remaining in the second half with a penalty kick goal. The Eagles earned the spot kick on a UNCG handball in the box. The GSU freshman beat the keeper who guessed the wrong way for the equalizer.
Neither team was able to score in the waning minutes, sending the match to overtime. Despite both teams’ best efforts, neither team was able to score in the first overtime period.
In the first three minutes of the second frame of overtime, Witt Carlisle got on the end of an Eagle counterattack inside the box. His shot, however, sailed just over the crossbar.
In the 105th minute, super substitute David Vargas Masis punched GSU’s ticket for the semifinals with laser goal. The sophomore made a masterful run to elude the defenders inside the penalty area and stuck a beautiful shot that beat the UNCG goalkeeper.
The Eagles face No. 1 seeded Elon in the semifinals on Thursday afternoon at 5 p.m. The match from the WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, N.C. is GSU’s first semifinal appearance since 2008.
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