UConn Falls to Creighton

Eliminated in Third Round of NCAA Tournament

Novemeber 30, 2008

OMAHA, Neb. – A free kick with 1:28 left in the first overtime lifted No. 2 Creighton past No. 22 UConn, 2-1, in the third round of the NCAA men’s soccer tournament Saturday at Morrison Stadium.

Andrei Gotsmanov’s late kick found Seth Sinovic in the box who connected for his third goal of the season to propel Creighton (16-1-2) to the NCAA Quarterfinals, while ending the Huskies’ season at 11-5-6.

In the 11th minute, Creighton took its second shot of the game as a tricky behind the back kick by Tim Walters went wide of the net and UConn goalkeeper, Josh Ford.

Ford picked up four saves in the first half as he recorded two in a span of four seconds as Creighton's Gotsmanov fired a shot from the top of the 18-yard box and was pushed away from the net by Ford. The Bluejay's Jeff Thayer took the one-time rebound shot which Ford was able to stop for his third save of the game. In the 21st minute of play, Ford made another save, leaping in the air to punch the ball out of bounds on an Ethan Finlay shot on goal.

The Huskies' first shot didn’t come until the 30th minute when Akeem Priestley's bid was caught in the gloves of Creighton goalkeeper, Brian Holt.

In the 33rd minute, the Huskies' went up 1-0 as a turnover by the Bluejays at midfield landed at the foot of Priestley who led the ball up the field to freshman Tony Cascio who was able to free himself down field and get a shot off. Cascio's second career goal and second score in two games knocked off the near post and into the back of the net.

At the 78:05 mark, Creighton tied the game, 1-1, when Chris Schuler found the back of the net on a header off a pass from Ethan Finlay. On a Creighton free kick, Gotsmanov crossed the ball into the box as Finlay headed the ball to a waiting Schuler, who was able to knot the score at one and force the game into overtime.