Box Score

SELINSGROVE, Pa. – The Cabrini College men's soccer team extended its 2012 NCAA Tournament appearance as long as it could before succumbing to No. 15 Susquehanna University 6-5 in a penalty kick shootout.  The Cavaliers closes its season with an 11-7-4 mark.

On a cold night, the Blue and White faced the difficult task of not only facing the Crusaders on the field, but an energetic opposing crowd and a delay in start time, as the night's opening game also went to a shootout.  None of the game's elements deterred the Cavaliers as they played arguably their best match of the season.

The teams remained scoreless through the match's first 45 minutes, combining for just five shots.  Making his second career start, freshman goaltender R.J. Pino recorded a pair of first half saves as the Cavaliers thwarted five Susquehanna corner kicks.

Most of the second half played out similarly to the first, with the home side trying to figure out how to crack Cabrini 's defense.  The Crusaders finally figured it out in the 75th minute when Samuel Tana fired a rebound into the net for the game's opening goal.

The Cavaliers turned up its offense in the final 15 minutes of the match, forcing the Crusaders into several fouls in dangerous scoring areas.  Finally, as it appeared that the Blue and White would run out of time, Susquehanna committed their final foul of regulation about 35 yards from its goal.  Senior Kyle Johnson served a beautiful ball into the penalty area that bounced off a Crusader defender and into the net, tying the score with just two minutes on the clock.

Susquehanna forced a corner kick with less than 10 seconds to play in regulation, but Pino's fourth save of the night sent the match to overtime. 

In the first 10 minute extra period, the Blue and White created several scoring chances but could not quite make the connection.  After a scoreless second 10 minute session, the match and a spot in the second round would be decided on penalty kicks.

The Cavaliers took an early 2-1 advantage as Pino saved two of Susquehanna's first three shots.  Crusaders' goaltender Matt Salsman erased the advantage with diving saves on two of Cabrini's final three shot, including the Blue and White's final attempt that could have won the match. 

Through the first five shooters, the score remained tied at 3-3.  Both teams converted their attempts in the sixth and seventh rounds.  Susquehanna's David Trank connected on his 8th round attempts before Cabrini's final attempt bounced off the cross bar.

The shootout win sends the Crusaders (17-2-1) into Sunday's second round match where they will face the University of Rochester, who topped Misericodia 5-4 in penalty kicks after ending regulation 1-1.

The loss also ends the careers of Cabrini's five seniors, Mike Gee, Anthony Girolamo, Kyle Johnson, Ryan Juhring, and Pat Wehring.  The group combined for 45 victories, including 23 in CSAC competition and the 2009 and 2012 CSAC titles.

The men appeared in 288 games, recording 81 points on 24 goals and 33 assists.