LANCASTER, PA - Franklin & Marshall College goalie Ed Stelz (So., Kew Gardens, NY/Loomis Chaffee) and defender Dan Mills (Sr., Hershey, PA/Hershey) attempted to clear a ball in the air which sailed just inside the cross bar at the 91:21 mark of overtime for an own goal and the game's only score as the #5 seed Muhlenberg College men's soccer team upset the #4 seed Diplomats 1-0 in Centennial Conference Tournament first round play.
Following 90 minutes of scoreless soccer in which F&M out shot the Mules 11-9, Muhlenberg received a break as a scoring attempt by Jonathan Kliewer was batted in the air by Stelz and hit off Mills in an attempt to clear the ball for the game-winning score with 8:39 left in the first overtime period.
The Mules advance to play at #1 seed and #2 nationally ranked Johns Hopkins University on November 5 in the CC semifinals. The game will begin at 5:00 p.m. with the #2 McDaniel vs. #3 Swarthmore semifinal game set to begin 7:30 p.m. also at Hopkins. The Centennial Conference title will be decided on either Saturday or Sunday at the highest remaining seed. If Hopkins or Swarthmore advance to the title tilt, the game will be played at 7:00 p.m. on November 6. However, if McDaniel defeats Swarthmore and Hopkins falls to Muhlenberg, then the title game will occur at 1:00 p.m. on November 7 in Westminster, Maryland.
Overall, F&M received the better of play in the game as the Diplomats had multiple opportunities to put the game away in regulation. The Mules best chance to clinch a win in regulation occurred with 34:18 left in the second half as Karim Assous corralled a loose ball in front of F&M's net and dribbled before attempting to shoot as the Diplomats defense collapsed around him to prevent a shot.
Stelz finished the game with four saves on 10 Muhlenberg shots, while Mules' goalie Chris Davis stopped two of the Diplomats' 11 shots to preserve the win.
Franklin & Marshall (10-5-2, 5-3-1) will now await word from the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) on November 8 regarding a possible berth to the organization's Mid-Atlantic Championship Tournament.
Muhlenberg (9-7-2, -3-1 CC) 0-0-1 -- 1
Franklin & Marshall (10-5-2, 5-3-1 CC090-0-0 -- 0
Goals: MC - Own goal (Jonathan Kliewer), 91:21
Saves: F&M - Ed Stelz, 4 (91:21 minutes)
MC - Chris Davis, 2 (91:21 minutes)
Shots: F&M 11, MC 10
Corners: F&M 7, MC 2
Direct Kicks: F&M 7, MC 8
Indirect Kicks: F&M 11, MC 10
