Box Score
Millersville, Pa. – West Virginia Wesleyan gave the No. 7 Millersville men's soccer team all it wanted and more, but in the end it was Marauder senior Sean McLaughlin delivering the knockout blow with a goal 8:57 into double overtime that carried Millersville to a 3-2 win on Monday afternoon at Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium.
The Bobcats (8-5-1) came into the Columbus Day matchup ranked No. 10 in the Atlantic Region and didn't waste time in letting the Marauders (11-2) know they were in for a battle. Wesleyan fired two shots at Millersville keeper Matt Langione in the first 1:06 of the game, but Langione was up the challenge.
Millersville would respond to the early pressure from the Bobcats when the reigning PSAC East Athlete of the Week, senior Matthew Procopio, converted a penalty kick at 5:26 to put the Marauders up 1-0.
The game would remain 1-0 in favor of Millersville as the two sides headed to halftime. The Marauders would strike quickly out of the break, however, as freshman Pat Baffuto finished a Ryan Kiley pass for a 2-0 lead.
West Virginia Wesleyan would not go down quietly on this afternoon though. Brett Fackenthal took a through ball from Ignacio Vial and deposited it by Langione in the 63rd minute to bring the visitors within one. Just over 10 minutes later, a Millersville foul inside the box resulted in a penalty kick for the Bobcats. Anthony Peters took the kick, but was denied by the outstretched arms of Langione. Unfortunately for the Marauders, the ball came right back to Peters and he was able to beat the helpless Langione to even the score at 2-2.
A Millersville red card with 30 seconds remaining in regulation put the Marauders in a hole as they headed to overtime forced to play shorthanded. Facing adversity, the Marauders would bend, but they would not break. Nearing the end of the first overtime period, Wesleyan got some pressure on the Marauder defense. Fackenthal, looking for his second goal of the day and the game-winner, fired a shot that had Langione beat, but it rang off the crossbar. Diego Michelato's follow up attempt was blocked and Millersville survived to play a second overtime period.
The chance to play on helped set the stage for McLaughlin's heroics. Sophomore Jeremy Yoder chipped a ball through the defense and McLaughlin was able to beat Wesleyan keeper George Rawley for the win.
Both keepers were outstanding in the double overtime affair. Langione finished with 11 saves, while Rowley posted eight. The teams combined to fire 41 shots (24 on goal).
Millersville will take on its second non-conference opponent in a row when Wheeling Jesuit visits Chryst Field at Biemesderfer Stadium this coming Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 1 p.m.
