The only problem for the UW-Platteville men's soccer team will be finding a way to top its opening act.
The Pioneers scored twice in the final 10 minutes--including the game-tying goal with 18 seconds to play--and went on to beat St. John Fisher 5-4 in the first round of the Flower City Classic in Rochester, N.Y. Friday.
The dramatic victory was especially sweet for two Pioneers: Coach Chris Bianchi, a St. John Fisher graduate, and Athletic Director Mark Molesworth, whose parents live within walking distance of the Fisher campus.
UWP gave the Rochester natives a thrill with the dramatic win.
Bryan Mark hit a 12-yarder to the top corner on a pass from Josh Sweno at 81:40, brining the Pioneers within 4-3. Mark then crossed the ball from the right wing, and Ben Terpening scored to the low right corner with 18 seconds to play, tying the score at 4-4.
In the first overtime, Alex Albright collected a loose ball just outside the box and shot left to right, drilling in the low liner into the corner for the win.
Albright finished with two goals, while Terpening, Mark, and Eric Christensen scored one each. Steve Wise made three saves for the Pioneers, who face host University of Rochester in Sunday's title game. Rochester is coming off a 16-1 season, with the lone loss in the NCAA III playoffs.
(Thanks to Rochester SID Dennis O'Donnell for the descriptions of Friday's goals.)
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