COLUMBUS, Ohio – 2008 Ohio Athletic Conference Regular Season Champion Capital lost in the OAC Men’s Soccer Semifinal to fourth-seeded Marietta, 2-1 on a goal scored with 1:24 remaining in overtime on Wednesday.
Capital (13-4-1) controlled the action for most of the match with a 24-16 lead in shots and an 8-0 advantage in corner kicks, but could not put together enough scoring chances to take the lead.
Both teams were held off the scoreboard in the first half despite a quality scoring chance in the 31st minute when Joey Snyder (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington HS) dribbled the ball around the goalkeeper and shot from 15 yards out, but a Marietta defender stepped in to keep the match scoreless.
The Pioneers finally got on the board in the second half when Justin Zimmerman got the ball after it deflected off a defender and pushed it past the goalkeeper for a 1-0 lead in the 66th minute.
Marietta nearly took a two-goal advantage in the 79th minute when Bradley Baweja stepped in front of a clearing blast by a Crusader defender just five yards in front of the goal and deflected the ball towards the net. Capital goalkeeper John Snyder (Worthington, Ohio/Thomas Worthington HS) made the stop at point blank range to give CU a chance for a comeback.
The Crusaders pushed all of their players forward in the final minutes and finally got the break they needed when goalkeeper John Snyder punted the ball the length of the field and off the shoulder of a Pioneer defender. Forward Joey Snyder picked up the ball and put it into the right corner of the net with just 1:52 left in regulation to send the match into overtime tied at 1-1.
Capital controlled the ball in its offensive end for most of the overtime until a long kick following a restart by Marietta sent the ball into the Crusaders’ defensive zone. Kyle Muth collected the ball off a turnover from 40 yards out and dribbled to the goal on a 2v1 breakaway. He shot from just inside the box and beat the keeper for a 2-1 victory in the 99th minute for Marietta.