The Hargrave Tigers (7-10-1, 4-3) knocked off No. 3 Eastern Mennonite (15-3-1, 7-1) in the first round of the VIC playoffs, 2-1, in a thrilling overtime matchup in which all three goals came in the extra periods of play. Hargrave entered the match as the fourth seed with a 3-3 record out of the East while Eastern Mennonite obtained the top seed after a 7-0 run through the West.
Senior midfielder Scott Dinius scored both the game tying and game winning goals in the second and third overtimes respectively for his 19th and 20th goals of the season to help lead the Tigers to the unprecedented upset. Hargrave junior goalkeeper Brad Faught was just as impressive as he finished the match with 12 saves on 13 of 22 shots on goal from Eastern Mennonite, and along with Dinius were the men of the match for the Tigers.
The first half of play resulted in a 6-1 shot margin in favor of the Flames, but ended in a scoreless draw. Most of the first half was a defensive standstill for the Tigers as they only allowed one shot to the Flames through 30 minutes of play.
The Flames, though, ended the half with five more shots, three of which came on goal. Though, the Tiger’s Faught was up to the task as he made good on all three saves to keep the Flames scoreless at the break.
Faught’s most noteable save of the first half came with less than two minutes remaining as the Tigers gave up a free kick from just outside the penalty area to the left of the goal. The Flames Bryce Shank caught the Tigers with a quick restart on a broken wall, and put a bending shot towards the right side of the goal with Faught still on the near post attempting to set up his wall. Although, Faught was able to make a superb diving save with his fingertips with a quick reaction to the shot to deny the attempt, and keep the game in a 0-0 tie.
The second half resulted in much of the same defensive stand for the Tigers as they were up against a superbly talented team in Eastern Mennonite going forward on the attack. Hargrave recorded only one more shot in the second half compared to the Flames 12 during the course of the remaining 40 minutes. Once again, though, Faught was up to the task as he made eight more impressive saves on eight shots on goal from the Flames.
The Flames Kevin Chico appeared to beat Faught during the second period as he blistered one of his six attempts at goal in the 56th minute from nearly 25 yards out that looked as though it was going to sneak under the crossbar. Faught, though, came up with the save tipping the attempt over the crossbar to retain the scoreless tie for the Tigers.
Chico had beaten the Tiger defense once again, and appeared to have beaten Faught for the game winner in the final minutes of play as he collected a long ball just inside the penalty area on the run, and nailed a low, driven shot to the far post. Faught, though, once again denied the opportunity with a diving save and pushed the attempt wide. Although, the Faught save became a loose ball and sat right into the follow-up attempt of Flames forward Lucas Schrock-Hurst for what also could have been the game winner if not for the quick recovery from Faught to deny the near post attempt prior to his initial save that took him to ground.
The Tigers maintained the 0-0 draw to send the game to a thrilling three overtimes before the result could be decided.
In the five minute overtime periods Eastern Mennonite struck first in the first overtime with less than a minute remaining at the 84:23 mark. Flames defender Matt Blauch won the ball with a slide tackle along the right wing, and sent a shot in on goal that found its way over the head of Faught who was unable to judge the floating attempt for the 1-0 advantage.
The game may have appeared to be won on the Blauch goal, but the match was all but over. With five minutes remaining to begin the second overtime period the Tigers switched up to go on the attack, and left their defensive stance a man short against a very strong Flames attack.
Then, with just over two minutes into the second overtime gone the Tiger’s Dinius shocked the Flames with the equalizer at the 87:12 mark; less than three minutes from time. The play begun on a cleared ball by the Flames to around midfield, and was sent back in by senior Mike Badolato. The flighted ball was then won in the air by junior forward Edwin Choi who flicked the ball on in-behind the Flames defense. Dinius had timed his run perfectly as he challenged the Choi redirection with the Eastern Mennonite sweeper just at the top of the penalty area, and made the first touch on the ball out of the air despite trailing the Flames defender. Dinius’ touch pushed the ball to the right into the penalty area, and caused the Flames sweeper to stumble, and almost tripping up Dinius himself. Although, the senior captain was able to maintain his balance as he was challenged for the ball from the Flames goalkeeper Dillon Brunk. Dinius was able to beat Brunk to the loose ball stretching out to touch it more to the right past the sprawling save attempt, and tuck home the equalizer into the empty net.
The match would end in a 1-1 draw at the end of the two overtimes, and, thus, would begin the sudden death five minute overtimes.
Hargrave decided to go for the win as they gambled to maintain their offensive attack. For nearly three and half minutes into the third overtime no attempts were made on goal for either team. Then, at the 93:44 mark the unthinkable happened, once again, for the Tigers and Dinius. A long ball from the Tigers made its way in-behind the Flames defense towards the top of the penalty area. The Flames sweeper seemed to have the long ball well in-hand, but a miscommunication with the keeper withdrew his run on the ball leaving just a seconds time that was enough for Dinius. Before the Flame’s Brunk could get a clearance on the ball Dinius stretched for the touch in between Brunk and his sweeper at the top of the box, split the two as the ball rolled to the left of the goal, and, once again, tucked home the empty netter from the left of the six for the remarkable game winner.
