Army West Point Athletics
Army West Point
8-4-5, 5-1-3
American University
8-6-5, 3-4-2
Men's Soccer Concludes Season with Semifinal Loss in Extra Time
November 08, 2022 | Men's Soccer
WEST POINT, N.Y. - Army West Point men's soccer was defeated in extra time by American University in a Patriot League tournament semifinal on Tuesday night. The teams battled to a 1-1 scoreline through 90 minutes before the Eagles scored a pair of goals in the second extra time period to secure a 3-1 victory.
Gage Guerra continued his remarkable scoring record in the Patriot League with a second half goal to equalize for the Black Knights, with Cooper Warren providing his ninth assist of the campaign on the score.
The Eagles returned to West Point after handing Army its only Patriot League loss during the regular season in the same fixture. On a frigid night, the teams grew into the game with limited scoring opportunities through the first half hour. Colman Kim saw a shot saved after a deflection in the 35th minute, as the teams marched on scoreless.
American hit the front just before halftime, with a service from Jack Green finding the head of Troy Elgersma in the six-yard box. The score gave American a halftime lead, after being outshot by the Black Knights 4-2. Halftime adjustments were made for Army, with D'Anthony Brown and Jacob Lee featuring for the second half after sitting through the first.
Army came close in the 67th minute, with Sam Epitime seeing a tight-angle shot saved. The Black Knights found the breakthrough just moments later, with Patriot League Offensive Player of the Year Gage Guerra providing the equalizer.
Cooper Warren collected just beyond midfield, before floating a ball over the top to Guerra. The sophomore used his first touch to poke the ball over the charging American goalkeeper into the back of the net for his tenth goal of the campaign.
GET INNNNN??
— Army Men's Soccer (@ArmyWP_MSoccer) November 9, 2022
Gage Guerra with the sweet feet to lift it over the keeper for No. 10 on the year!
Watch on ESPN+ https://t.co/M0t1XDnJcO#GoArmy pic.twitter.com/IT82Rs0nks
Guerra came close with a chance in the 77th minute, with Matthew Tibbetts registering an ever-important save that would eventually send the game to extra time. The teams proved stagnant through the first 10 minute half, with the only shot coming from American's Robert Matei going high.
In the first minute of the second extra time period, American scored the game-winning goal through Mattias Cooper after a surge into the Army box early. Hopes of a comeback were quickly put to rest, with Leo Palomo scoring with a strike into the top left corner less than two munutes later, giving the Eagles a 3-1 victory and berth in the Patriot League Championship Game.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Gage Guerra scored his tenth goal of the season and ninth during Patriot League play.
- Cooper Warren provided his ninth assist of the season while logging 110 minutes.
- Tomas Hut made four saves in net for the Black Knights.
- The sides were level with eight corner kicks apiece.
Army concludes the season with an 8-4-5 overall record, highlighted by securing its first Patriot League regular season title since 1996.
Team Stats
Troy Elgersma (3)
Assisted By: Jack Green , Zemi Rodriguez
GOAL by AMER Elgersma, Troy Assist by Green, Jack and Rodriguez, Zemi.
42:54
Gage Guerra (10)
Assisted By: Cooper Warren
GOAL by ARMY Guerra, Gage Assist by Warren, Cooper.
67:43
Mattias Cooper (3)
Assisted By: Robert Matei
GOAL by AMER Cooper, Mattias Assist by Matei, Robert.
100:44
Leo Palomo (1)
Assisted By: Dilane Zouantcha
GOAL by AMER Palomo, Leo Assist by Zouantcha, Dilane.
102:31
