Overview

• Result: Maranatha 2-3 IIT (OT)
• Venue: Maranatha Baptist University
• Attendance: 92
• Record: Sabercats are now 4-5
• Next Game for MBU: Saturday, September 30 at 5 p.m. at Wisconsin Lutheran

WATERTOWN, Wis. -- The Sabercats' 110-minute effort eventually fell short to the Scarlet Hawks of Illinois Tech. this afternoon, and the overtime contest was indeed a thriller.

The first half went back and forth with two goals for either team, then the Scarlet Hawks ended the game with just over 1 minute left in the second overtime period. It was a heart-breaker for the Sabercats.

Daniel Kroll wasted no time in getting the Sabercats on the scoreboard. When Kroll darted behind the IIT back line on the right side of the field, Tyler Nelson sent a well-placed 40-yard pass from midfield behind the defense and into the path of Kroll. The senior dribbled hard from the right wing into the IIT penalty area, and as the goalkeeper came out, Kroll finished with authority into the far corner.  

The Scarlet Hawks equalized 20 minutes later when Peter Fouchet headed the ball in from a Quentin Dreilich cross. The IIT goal was in keeping with the momentum of the game, as the visitors looked dangerous in the early going.

Ten minutes later, Stephen Roer answered for the Sabercats, as the freshman tallied his first collegiate goal off a tantalizing Steven Thompson cross. Thompson's cross from the right side of the penalty area skipped across the IIT goal to the back post, where Roer was waiting to simply place the ball into the back of the net.

The Sabercats' lead would not last, though, as IIT again equalized with just 3 minutes left in the first half. After collecting an errant MBU pass in midfield, the Scarlet Hawks executed a well-timed counterattack, which ended with a precise finish from Christopher Reed.

Neither team was able to score the game-winning goal in the second half, and throughout the late stages of the game, Andrew Taylor kept the Sabercats alive with two reaction saves from point-blank range.

The Scarlet Hawks eventually found a way around Taylor, however, and it was just in the knick of time. After a chipped ball behind the Sabercats' back line found the feet of Reed, the sophomore showed determination to dribble into the Sabercats' box and fire a soaring game-winner into the top-left corner. The goal came with just 66 seconds left on the clock.

Taylor made 6 saves in the win, and Kroll added his second goal of the season.

"It's always disappointing to lose a game deep into overtime," said Coach Jeff Pill after the game. "But we continue to make some strides, and we created some good goals today. Hats off to IIT for battling through."

The next game for MBU will be Saturday at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee at 5 p.m. Catch all the details at mbusabercats.com/composite.