Overtime Winner Puts Eagles In National TItle Game

Box Score 

(11/19/07 - Men's Soccer) OLATHE, Kan. - All-American Jeff Clark headed in the golden goal in double overtime to give #6-seeded Concordia a 2-1 win over 10th-seeded Auburn-Montgomery (Ala.), Monday evening in the semifinal round of the 49th Annual NAIA Men's Soccer National Championships.

"To be honest, the whole play was kind of a blur," said Clark, who netted his team-leading 15th goal of the season and fifth game-winner. "(Jon) Fahey hit a great corner and I kind of had a feeling I was going to score in overtime. I told everyone that I just wanted the ball and I just flicked it into the corner."

With the strong wind at their backs in the second extra session, the Eagles pressed forward to find the goal to break a 1-1 deadlock and earn the victory. Following a shot by Jon Carlson that was saved by Nenad Cudic, Fahey stepped to the left corner and curled the ball just outside the six-yard box. Clark rose to the ball and headed the ball into the top right corner to set off the celebration.

"This is by far the biggest goal I've ever scored in my life," said Clark, who helped the Eagles win the 2006 GSAC title with an overtime header against Fresno Pacific. "I've played in some big games, a lot of finals, but this tops them all. We all played a great game and came out and got the result."

The Eagles were put on their heels through the early moments of the game with the wind firmly in their face, but managed to gain their composure and begin to exert their will on the game. Auburn-Montgomery (17-5-0) tallied a 16-3 lead in shots through the first 45 minutes, but senior netminder Mike Borst was forced into just three saves as the Eagles began to control long periods of possession.

As the second half began, the Eagles were able to use the wind to their advantage. A bigger advantage was to come, however, that had nothing to do with the weather.

A late tackle by Kari Arsaelsson earned the defender a yellow card in the 53rd minute. Much to the disappointment of his teammates, a second caution came just past the hour mark, earning him a rec card and the Eagles a one-man advantage.

With the majority of the possession now firmly belonging to the Eagles, it took an errant pass by the Senators to set up the opening goal. Josh Bickel picked off the ball in the offensive third and pressed toward goal. He unleashed a shot from 25 yards that Cudic could not reach, ripping the top right corner of the net with 17:02 remaining.

The exhilaration of the lead last just over one minute as the Senators defied the odds to grab an equalizer. A foul just outside the area set up the Senators for a rare opportunity at goal. Sigurjon Jonsson took advantage, flicking a header off the free kick by Steinthor Thosteinss just past Borst at 74:17.

A pair of late corner kicks helped the Eagles threaten the AUM goal in the dying moments of regulation, but the Senators were able to defend their goal. Carlson had the last opportunity, but also had that attempt at goal turned away.

After the first half, the Eagles outshot the Senators by a 12-6 ledger the rest of the way. Borst made four saves in nets for the Eagles while Cudic had five stops for Auburn-Montgomery. The win also helped the Eagles remain unbeaten (18-0) when scoring first while also going to 3-0 in overtime contests.

Concordia (19-3-0) makes its first-ever national title game appearance on Tuesday, November 20 against GSAC-rival and top-seeded Azusa Pacific, a 1-0 winner of #5-seeded Simon Fraser (B.C.). As if playing for their first-ever national title was not enough motivation, the Eagles will also be out to avenge one of their only losses on the season, a 4-0 defeat in Azusa back on October 17.