Men's Soccer Ousted in Shootout by Hofstra

Friday, November 9

Vidas Field

7:30 p.m.

Drexel University

12-3-3, 8-1-1

CAA Semifinals vs. 4 Hofstra

11-5-4, 5-4-1

OT 4

OT 5

OT 6

HOFSTRA

DREXEL

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

11/9/2012 11:46:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA - The Drexel men's soccer quest for a Colonial Athletic Association championship came to a heartbreaking end on Friday night as the Dragons were bested in a shootout by Hofstra. After finishing 110 minutes of action knotted at one, Hofstra won the shootout 4-3 in six shots.

Fabio Machado scored Drexel's goal in the 26th minute of regulation. Tim Washam stopped a season-best eight shots, but Hofstra advanced to take on No. 2 Northeastern in Sunday's CAA Championship Game.

The Dragon took the lead in the 26th minute. After another offensive flurry, Drexel appeared to be unable to punch home the game's first score. As the Hofstra defense regained possession and attempted to clear, sophomore forward Fabio Machado raced into the action, stopping the attempted clearing pass and getting the ball back on his foot. Machado wasted no time roping a shot towards the far post. It deflected off a Hofstra defender, getting goalkeeper Adam Janowski off balance as the ball found its way to the back corner of the net to give Drexel a 1-0 lead.

Drexel dominated the offensive flow in the first half, outshooting Hofstra 13-6. Michele Pataia and Machado had three shots each. The Dragons yielded little defensively, getting back to stop one possible Hofstra breakaway before the Pride could manage so much as a shot. Tim Washam stopped all three shots that did make it on net, all straightforward saves in the middle of his body. At one point, Hofstra looked like they would have a superb look at the goal, but an offsides call negated the shot. Nevertheless, Washam made a nifty jumping stop, so the Pride attempt would have been unsuccessful anyway.

After halftime, play began to get chippy. In fact, seven cards were issued during the course of the game - all after intermission. In the 77th minute, Mark Donohue took a hard foul in the box when he came in to play a ball 10 yards away from the net on the right of goalkeeper Adam Janowski. Janowski came out and went into a hard slide tackle, upending Donohue. Nathan Page, the Dragons' leading scorer, stepped up to take the kick but Janowski guessed right, diving to his left and stopping the attempt.

Less than two minutes later, the Pride got on the board. Maid Memic took a pass from Chris Greibsch, who was streaking down the right side of the field and beat Washam to tie things up in the 79th minute.

The score remained that way through the rest of regulation, and then through two overtimes. The Dragons had chances, particularly in the second overtime when Page found Michele Pataia cutting in front of the net in the 107th minute, but Pataia's shot went just wide.

On to the shootout the teams went. After both squads hit their first two, Hofstra missed their third, while Drexel's Ken Tribbett hit his to make it 3-2 Dragons. The Pride missed again with their fourth attempt, leaving Drexel needing to make one of the next two to advance. Unfortunately, Janowski stepped up and the Dragons were stymied, as Hofstra hit its final shot to force a 3-3 tie and a sixth shot. After Stephan Barea hit his for Hofstra, Guido Pena's shot nicked off the crossbar and over the top of the goal, ending the game.

Sunday's championship will stlil be played at Vidas Field, featuring Hofstra and second-seeded Northeastern, which defeated James Madison 5-0. Tickets are $5 for adults and free for children 12 and under and all students with valid ID. Kickoff is set for 2:00 p.m.