THE BASICS:
- Score: No. 10 Assumption 2, No. 7 West Chester (PA) 1 (2OT)
- Records: No. 10 Assumption (13-7-0, 6-5-0 NE10), No. 7 West Chester (PA) (14-5-1, 9-2-1 NE10)
- Location: Erie, Pa. (Gannon University)
- The Lead: Kevin Hernandez (San Juan, P.R. / Colegio San Jose) scored the game-winning goal on a rocketed shot from inside the box as the Assumption Greyhounds defeated the West Chester Golden Rams 2-1 in the second overtime to claim the program's first ever NCAA tournament win in its first-ever NCAA tournament game.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
-Hernandez, who scored both goals for the Hounds, scored with just 4:41 left in overtime. Teammate Juan O'Neill (Guaynabo, P.R. / Colegio San Ignacio) gained the ball with an open field in the box. He passed it out front to Hernandez, who found himself wide-open from about 10-yards out and rocketed a shot into the back of the net for the game-winning goal.
-Hernandez had also put his team up 1-0 just 9:46 into the contest. He took a shot right at Golden Rams' goalkeeper Daniel Good, who corralled the ball, but couldn't prevent it from going into the net, giving the Hounds an initial lead.
-The game remained that way until the 86:50 mark and with just 3:10 left in the game. West Chester's Vito Vincent tied the game at one on a deflection off an Assumption defender. Vincent gained possession of the ball at the top of the box and fired a shot home for the game-tying goal and to send it into overtime before Hernandez struck again.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS:
-The Rams outshot Assumption 18-13, while the Hounds held a 4-1 advantage in overtime. West Chester also held an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks.
-Hernandez has now scored 10 goals on the year and five in his last three games, including one assist. During that span, Hernandez scored the game-winning goal against American Int'l in the Northeast-10 playoffs and now against the Golden Rams.
-Jason Lages (Edgartown, Mass. / Martha's Vineyard Regional) added his sixth assist, giving him 11 goals and six assists for 28 points, a team-high in each category.
-Sebastian Jimenez (Naples, Fla. / Gulf Coast High School) made four saves and improved to 13-7-0 on the year. The win moves Jimenez into sole possession of third-place in most wins in a career in program history, while he also holds first-place in wins in one season, minutes in one season and games in one season.
-The win marks the first NCAA tournament win for the Hounds in program history, also marking their first NCAA tournament appearance in program history. It also ties the program record for most wins in one season with 13, a mark set back in 2000.
UP NEXT:
- The Hounds move on to the second round of the NCAA tournament and will face No. 2 Gannon on Sunday November 24 at 12 p.m.
STAY CONNECTED:
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