MEDFORD, MA – The University of Rochester men's soccer team needed penalty kicks, but earned the right to continue on in the 2023 NCAA Division III tournament following a 1-1 draw against Johnson & Wales University on Saturday afternoon at Tufts University.
 
Senior goalkeeper Santino Lupica-Tondo made a diving save to his left to deny the fifth Wildcats shooter a goal, helping Rochester (9-2-6) post a 5-4 victory in the shootout. Lupica-Tondo finished with four saves during the match, but his last one of the day proved to be the difference.
 
After putting the Wildcats (14-2-5) under pressure in the opening minutes by serving several dangerous balls in behind the defense, was able to break through and open the scoring in the 21st minute.
 
Senior midfielder Nick Swanger sent a long through ball up the center of the field towards goal scorer EliJose Araujo. Johnson & Wales keeper Jacob Friedman came way out in an attempt to break up the play, but a soft one-touch by Araujo cleared the keeper and the defenders, leaving an empty net for the sophomore to score his fifth goal of the year.
 
Ten minutes later, Avi Lamba found Will Fallona for a good chance in front, but the Wildcats defense was able to block the shot away.
 
During the second half, Lamba sent a cross into the box looking for Fallona again, with the UR first-year heading a shot straight on goal, but Friedman was able to turn the ball away for the save.
 
Ten minutes later, Johnson & Wales continued to up its offensive pressure and scored the equalizer late in regulation. The goal came off off a long throw in that was headed down by Aidan Bagley inside the box, eventually coming to the foot of Jonathon Baker who settled with one touch and ripped a left-footed shot inside the right post.
 
After the goal, the Wildcats kept moving forward, getting shots on frame in the 83rd and 85th minutes, but Lupica-Tondo came up with the saves to keep the game tied.
 
Rochester made one last ditch effort in regulation to score the winner, but Tyler Moran's 90th minute shot from 25 yards after a long throw in was deflected over the bar by the keeper for the save, sending the contest into overtime.
 
After neither team recorded a shot in the first overtime, Ashton Prescott fired an attempt on goal at the 104-minute mark, with Friedman turning that attempt away.
 
In the shootouts, Rochester kicked first, and Santi Ponce Ocampo struck for the opening point. JWU responded with a goal, and did for the next three rounds, following UR's tallies from Andrew Moglianesi, Prescott and Swanger.
 
The fifth shooter was Othman Belhseine who connected to post a perfect 5-for-5 score for Rochester, setting up Lupica-Tondo's game-winning save. The save came against Baker, giving the Yellowjacket keeper revenge against the opponent that scored the lone regulation strike against him.
 
Rochester now matches up on Sunday in the second round against 20th-ranked and regional host Tufts University. Kickoff is set for 1 pm.