Case Western Reserve University scored with 20 minutes to play to snap a 1-1 tie and defeat Rochester, 2-1, in men's soccer at Edwin Fauver Stadium.
The victory gives the Spartans the University Athletic Association championship - and with it, a trip to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Case finished the regular season at 16-2-1 overall, 5-2-0 in the UAA. The Spartans are ranked number two in their region and #15 in the current NCAA Division III poll.
Rochester finishes the regular season at 8-5-3, 2-3-2 in the UAA.
The Yellowjackets took a 1-0 lead early in the match. At 14:09, Brian Tuohy received a ball in the center of the box. With too many defenders advancing, Tuohy pushed the ball out to Matt Sulkin on the right flank. Sulkin swung it back inside and Tyler Green headed it into the top right hand corner of the goal, beyond the reach of Case goalkeeper Konrad Karasek.
With just under 20 minutes left in the half, karasek charged off the line to cut down the angle and stopped Neil Osuch on a breakaway.
Case evened the score at 35:30. Matt Paglia carried the ball down the right flank and crossed it into the center along the edge of the penalty area. R.J. French drove a low shot into the right hand corner.
The Spartans applied heavy pressue in the second half in search of the go-ahead goal. Case attackers hit the woodwork four times and Paco Corbalan made nine of his 10 saves. In all, Case outshot Rochester 22-2 in the second half and 29-8 for the match.
Brian Evans created a good deal of havoc on right wing and it was his pass that set up the gamewinning goal. Five minutes into the period, his shot was deflected by Corbalan, right to the foot of a Spartan attacker who couldn't control the rebound from inside the crease. Eight minutes in, Evans' corner kick swirled into the middle and Kevin Bigart hit the crossbar. Another corner kick by Evans - this one midway through the half - set up Bigart again, and Corbalan had to fist the shot over the bar for a corner.
At 69:59, Evans sent over a high cross from right wing and Justin Steggerda headed it into the left corner of the net.
Rochester's best second half opportunity came two minutes later. A throw-in by Sulkin was bandied about the box, finally landing at the feet of Scott Cady. His shot on the turn was just wide of the right upright.
