MSC12_Game15_RidoutGoal
Kirstie Peyton

Men's Soccer Benjamin Dishong

Statesmen fall in double overtime heartbreaker to UWF

Box Score CLEVELAND - The Delta State men's soccer program fell to West Florida in double overtime for the second straight season at Delta Field, falling 3-2 with just 47 seconds remaining in the match.

With just over a minute left in the second overtime, Statesmen Daniel Deblaere had a scoring chance stopped and the ensuing counter attack turned into "Deja Vu" all over again for the Statesmen (7-8-1, 4-6-0 GSC).

In 2011, the Statesmen missed a scoring chance in the second overtime and on an immediate counter attack, the Argos scored the winner in the 106th minute. On Sunday, the Argos (10-2-2, 8-0-2 GSC) took the win in the 110th and final minute of the match, putting home a rebound.

Hank Klein put a shot on target and Statesmen keeper Mack Pytyck was unable to control the shot and the rebound found the back of the net off the foot of Jack Salafrio. The goal put the Argos into the lead for the first time of the match.

Delta State took the lead in the 16th minute when Caue Da Silva put home a penalty kick for his 15th goal of the season. Da Silva was awarded the penalty after playing the ball past West Florida goal keeper Stuart McCrory, who then took out Da Silva in attempt to avoid an open goal shot.

West Florida answered just over 13 minutes later with a strike from Dillon Gallet. The forward for the Argos scored on a shot from the left side of the box about 15 yards out.

Despite the goal allowed in the first half, Pytyck was vey sharp and made seven saves, including several big savse, in the first half. He also had two defensive stops on West Florida scoring chances that didn't result in shots in the opening 45 minutes.

In the second half, Delta State turned up the offensive attack outshooting the Argos 7-3 on shots on goal aftering giving up eight in the first half to three shots on goal.

The Statesmen took the lead on a low cross in from the left side from Abraheem Saleh that Sebastian Ridout one touched into the back of the net. The goal was Ridout's fourth of the season.

The Argonauts answered in the 83rd minute when Gallet tied the game up with his second goal of the match, almost identical to his first goal.

In the first overtime session, Steven Simmons put a header just wide of the net on the best chance for either team. West Florida put a shot high and then had another shot blocked before putting a shot on target from long distance.

In the second overtime session, Pytyck stopped three Argos' shots before the counter attack that resulted in the game winner.

The result Sunday between the Statesmen and Argonauts will likely set up a No. 1 vs. No. 4 matchup between the two schools in the semifinals of the Gulf South Conference Tournament on November 2. The Statesmen trail West Alabama, currently in third, by four points, with two games remaining for each squad. West Florida holds a three-point lead over Christian Brothers for the top seed.

The Statesmen will look to rebound Friday with their final road game of the regular season when they travel to Union to take on the Bulldogs. The Statesmen will return home for "Senior Day" next Sunday when they close out the regular season against Christian Brothers.
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