Kansas City
Oakland University
Kangaroos Capture Third League Tournament Title With Shootout Win Over 10-Man Oakland
11/16/2008 4:00:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Rochester, Mich. -- The UMKC men's soccer team claimed its third Summit League Tournament title on Sunday, besting 10-man Oakland 4-3 in a penalty shootout after the game ended 1-1 in regulation. Ken Cooper made the decisive save in the fifth round of the shootout to put the Kangaroos through to the NCAA Tournament.
Oakland put the pressure on from the opening kick, but Cooper came up strong several times in the opening half-hour for the Blue-and-Gold.
UMKC nearly found itself on the scoreboard in the 33rd minute, as Levi Coleman played a strong through ball into the 18-yard box. Bryan Perez lunged, trying to redirect the ball past a sliding Clark, but couldn't get a foot to the ball as clark slid out and collected the effort. UMKC had another chance cleared away in the 35th minute.
A whipped-in cross from Tom Catalano was punched out by Cooper in the 40th minute, but the clearance took a deflection and fell dangerously in the box. The Kangaroo defense was able to clear the ball out after a scramble at the top of the box left Oakland calling in vain for a penalty kick as their forward stumbled after initiating contact.
Oakland looked to break the deadlock immediately after the intermission, but Cooper had the effort from St. Louis sized up as the ball sailed wide of the post.
The light snow that had begun in the 37th minute began to pick up as the second half began, causing the footing to get a bit dodgy as the precipitation melted nearly as quick as it fell.
Oakland found itself down to 10 men in the 53rd minute as Clark was shown a red card after denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity for UMKC. A turnover in midfield found Brian Harris streaking down the right wing, looking to turn to goal. Clark came well out of the penalty area and slid to tackle the ball away from Harris, but collected more of the player than the ball, earning the immediate send off. Unfortunately, the Kangaroos weren't able to convert the ensuing free kick.
The game took on a more frantic pace for the next several minutes, as Oakland continued to press the attack. The pressure would pay off in the 59th minute, as St. Louis was able to tally the opening goal of the game, creating an opening on the right wing and curling a shot into the far corner of the goal.
After the goal, Oakland looked content to sit back and defend, but the Kangaroos would punish that attitude in the 68th minute. Coleman found Harris through the heart of the Oakland defense, with Harris able to power the ball through replacement goalkeeper Mitch Hildebrandt's hands and into the back of the net.
The Blue-and-Gold almost broke free for a second goal in the 73rd, as Harris dribbled past his defender on right wing and turned down the goal line, but his cross was cut out by Hildebrandt.
A nifty combination in the 80th minute put the Kangaroos in with another chance just outside the six-yard box but the slick conditions allowed the ball to squirt forward and into the hands of Hildebrandt.
A foul in the 86th minute gave Oakland a chance to claim the spoils in regulation, but Cooper was able to turn the 40-yard rocket from Piotr Nowak over the crossbar with ease.
Coleman created an excellent effort for the Blue-and-Gold in the 88th minute, spinning through his defenders into the penalty area, but his shot was blocked and cleared by the Golden Grizzlies.
Neither team was able to create a chance in the final minute of regulation, sending the contest to overtime.
The Kangaroos had a heart-stopping moment in the 93rd minute, as Cooper came out to collect a cross. The ball hung in the air longer than the sophomore had anticipated, falling to Oakland. Catalano wasn't able to put a shot on the open goal - instead ricocheting his effort off the post and clear.
Caleb Mitchell nearly put the game away for the Kangaroos in the 98th minute, uncorking a shot from 20 yards out on the right side, but the shot was deflected wide for a corner.
The Kangaroo defense held strong in the 105th minute, as Oakland threatened with a nice buildup, but Chris Markey was able to coolly clear out the cross from just above the six-yard box.
Neither team was able to clinch in the 110 minutes on the pitch, leaving the game to be decided from the spot.
Oakland won the coin toss, earning the right to shoot first, with both teams connecting on their first effort. Catalano pinged his chance off the crossbar to open the second round, with Perez giving the Kangaroos a 2-1 edge on his shot.
Each team struck net in both the third and fourth rounds, leaving UMKC with a 4-3 edge going into the fifth kick. Cooper calmly read Nowak's body language, diving to the right to punch out the spot kick and send the Blue-and-Gold to their third NCAA Tournament berth.
The Kangaroos move to 10-6-3 on the season, and remain unbeaten in shootouts in the league tournament. They will learn their first-round opponent on Monday, as the 48-team field for the NCAA Men's Soccer Tournament will be announced. The selection announcements will be carried live on ESPNews (Time Warner Cable Chan. 204-SD/1204-HD) Oakland falls to 14-4-1 on the campaign.
The all-tournament team will be announced later this afternoon, please check www.umkckangaroos.com for an update.
