Boys Soccer wins a nail-biter against Claremont to move on to round 2 with a final score of 4-3
Adrian Ochoa stepped up to the spot in the penalty box waiting for the whistle to blow in double-overtime to win the game for the Lancers.
The crowd went crazy as he came up and hit it right in the same direction as the goalkeeper who missed it by this much.
Ochoa came down to his knees with his jersey on his face as the rest of the team jumped on top of him to celebrate the game winning goal.
Bishop Amat started off their playoff campaign against the 10-5-0 Claremont Wolfpack last Wednesday at Kiefer Stadium beating them 4-3.
The first half was quiet as both teams could not get into great positions to get a good shot off.
Junior Edwin Varela and senior Keenan Bonilla had plenty of opportunities to take an early lead but ended up giving the ball right back through turnovers.
After the scoreless first half, both teams regrouped to play one of the most exciting second halves of soccer I have ever seen.
Claremont took the lead in the 47th minute on a penalty kick by Jack Englebert to go up 1-0.
But Bishop Amat answered right back four minutes later thanks to Adrian Ochoa’s header to tie it up 1-1.
With the game tied, both teams had a sense of urgency coming down to the final minutes. The Lancers had their momentum crushed in the 63rd minute by Jack Englebert
Englebert put Clarmont back on top with an incredible shot in the upper right corner. This would be his final goal of the season.
With the clock running down emotions were high as many of the Claremont players started conflict with the Lancers which lead to ejections for the Wolfpack.
The Lancers tied it up with seconds left on the clock by Bonilla to make the score 2-2.
But the scoring wouldn’t stop there as Elijah Cofer threw in the ball to Varela to go up 3-2 in extra time.
Bishop Amat felt victory in their hands until Claremont answered right back to tie it 3-3 and send the game to overtime.
The first period of overtime was scoreless leaving the scoreboard to 3-3.
Bishop Amat pushed the ball forward with little time left on the clock forcing the game winning PK by Ochoa.
The Bishop Amat Lancers will move on to round two and will play Marshall on the road this Friday. They hope to take home another victory and move on to the quarter-finals.
