MOUNTIES MEN'S SOCCER LOSES HEARTBREAKER IN NCAA FIRST ROUND

The Mount Aloysius College men's soccer team battled against No. 19/11 Ohio Northern University but fell in heartbreaking fashion, 1-1 (4-2 in penalty kicks), in the NCAA Tournament First Round on Saturday afternoon.

Mountie defender Rhett Pletcher scored the lone goal for the Mounties, late in the second period, while also converting his penalty kick attempt. Louis Bez provided the assist on Pletcher's goal, his team-leading sixth assist of the season, and made a penalty kick at the end of the game. Goalkeeper Luke Priestly tallied seven saves on the day.

In the first period, Mount Aloysius attempted two shots, while Ohio Northern had four shot attempts, but neither team found the back of the net. Ohio Northern scored first at the 57:23 mark off a corner kick for the 1-0 lead. As the period progressed to the latter stages, Mount Aloysius continued to fend off shots from Ohio Northern. Then, in the 83rd minute, the Mounties came back when Pletcher tied the game 1-1 on a pass from Bez. The game remained even as regulation ended. Bez and Sean Barrant both had looks at the goal in the 91st minute of the first overtime, but did not score. Still, the defense held strong and held Ohio Northern scoreless as well, sending the game to a second overtime period. Despite four corner kick and two shot attempts by its opponent, the Mounties' defense again prevented Ohio Northern from scoring in the final ten minutes, meaning the game would be decided by a penalty kick shootout.

In penalty kicks, Mount Aloysius had the early advantage when Ohio Northern started with a missed attempt. However, the Mounties also missed their try, keeping the shootout at 0-0. Both teams would convert their next two kicks, including by Pletcher and Bez, making it 2-2. Ohio Northern knocked in its next kick, but unfortunately the Mounties missed their fourth attempt. Ohio Northern then sealed the win with a fourth make, giving it the 1-1(4-2) victory to move on to the NCAA Second Round. 

Ohio Northern led in shots (22-7) and corner kicks (16-5). Mount Aloysius had eight saves compared to three for Ohio Northern. The Mounties had six different players with shot attempts, but no player had more than two tries.

Mount Aloysius' close defeat to one of the top-ranked teams in the country concludes another successful season, in which the Mounties won their second AMCC title in two years. Under leadership from Head Coach Laurence Hutchinson, the Mounties finished with a 10-7-3 overall record and 6-0-1 conference record.