ANDREW Falls to MGCCC in OT Thriller

PERKINSON, Miss. -- The Andrew College men's soccer team battled a strong Mississippi Gulf Coast group in an emotional contest Saturday afternoon. The Tigers were very good defensively against one of the top scoring offenses in the country for 60 minutes. Both teams had chances during that time, but no one could find the break through until 61st minute. That would open up the flood gates from both teams. MGCCC played a long through ball to CJ Smith who whipped in a 1st time cross, and Caleb Counselman found the empty net.

AC wouldn't take long to respond, just five minutes later, Andrei Bajura would tuck away his second goal of the season from the penalty spot. The momentum would spark the Tigers to get a second goal just three minutes later in the game from Reyes Hernandez assisted from Rasid Jakupovic. The Bulldogs would have a quick answer netting a penalty of their own in the 71st minute.

Second leading goal scorer in the country last season Jordan Hall, would put the Bulldogs ahead 3-2 with just ten minutes remaining. With four minutes remaining, Andrew would find a way to equalize from an own goal taking the game into overtime. Unfortunately, AC would have a man sent off in regulation,  MGCCC would take advantage of being up a man, scoring the game winner in the 1st OT.

"I was happy with the effort and commitment from our players today", said coach Pantazelos. "We are no where near a finished product as a team, but we are developing and improving every game. It is incredibly hard to win at any level in college soccer, and I thought there we're things outside of our control that had a major impact on the result. Over the course of a season though, those things tend to even out, and the teams who are supposed to be there at the end usually are."