Forward Pierce Erickson scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime to give the St. Thomas Men’s soccer team (3-0-1) over Northwestern (0-1-2) Wednesday night at Reynolds Field.
The goal, Erickson’s first of the season, came off a brilliant four-man passing play leading to a shot on the goal from six yards out.
The Eagles had scored the game-tying goal with 1:02 remaining in regulation after the Tommies had taken a 2-1 lead minutes earlier.
“We really dodged a bullet,” St. Thomas coach Jon Lowery said.
The Tommies were in control early, but Northwestern struck first after a miscommunication between a Tommie defender and goalkeeper Grant Larson allowed the Eagles to score into an open net with 10:22 to go in the first half.
“We aren’t built to concede soft goals,” Lowery said. “We need to improve a lot of details.”
Northwestern generated an attack off of the ensuing kickoff and hit the post. Another goal would have made a comeback very difficult for the Tommies.
St. Thomas gained momentum after Alex Schnobrich scored off of a cross from midfielder Connor Young with 23:37 to go in the match.
Following Schnobrich’s goal, the Tommies generated a plethora of scoring chances, barely missing on two corners with about eight minutes to go.
Midfielder Shae Bottum scored on a free kick for the Tommies following a fake by a Mark Heydt with 6:16 remaining, sending the Tommies to a 2-1 lead over Northwestern.
It looked as though the Tommie comeback was complete until Northwestern’s Derrick Aminga evened the score with 1:02 to go.
The Tommies made a push in the final seconds but were denied by the Northwestern goalkeeper sending the match to overtime.
After a scoreless first overtime, Erickson broke the tie giving the Tommies a hard fought victory.
“We needed that test,” Lowery said. “It took a ton of guts to find the winner and we’ll need that effort and belief moving forward.”
St. Thomas will be back in action at home on Saturday at 1 p.m. against North Central from Illinois.
St. Thomas: 3-0-1
Northwestern: 0-1-2
Taylor Smith can be reached at smit9660@stthomas.edu.