Goalkeeper scores in shootout, puts W&J in PAC soccer final
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Goalkeeper Jon Best’s goal in the fifth round of a shootout gave Washington & Jefferson a 1-0 victory over visiting Grove City in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference tournament semifinals Wednesday night.
W&J (10-6-3) will play at Thomas More in the championship game Sunday (1 p.m.) in Kentucky.
The Presidents battled Grove City to a 0-0 double overtime tie and advanced to the PAC title game by winning the penalty kick shootout 4-3.
During the regular season, second-seeded W&J and third-seeded Grove City (8-5-6) also played to a scoreless draw at Alexandre Stadium.
Despite the lack of offense on the scoreboard, both teams had numerous scoring chances. The Wolverines held a 9-5 edge in shots following the first period, but the Presidents took over in the second half, playing much of the 45 minutes in the GCC end. For the game, the shots finished even at 17 apiece.
Grove City goalkeeper Brenden Alfrey stopped a total of nine shots during the 110 minutes of action, while Best made five saves.
Following regulation and a pair of 10-minute overtime periods, the game headed into a best-of-five penalty kick shootout. With goals by James Calvert, Brian Hanna and Anthony Sorco, the Presidents needed a successful shot in the final round to advance. In stepped the goalkeeper, Best, to propel W&J to the championship game for the first time since 2009.