Box Score Ohio Wesleyan 2, Christopher Newport 2Sophomore forward Kyle Baum (Powell/Olentangy Liberty) and senior forward Colton Bloecher (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) scored goals for Ohio Wesleyan, and junior back Evan Lee (Toledo/St. Johns) converted the deciding penalty kick in the shootout as 14th-ranked Ohio Wesleyan moved on in the NCAA Division III tournament by outscoring 17th-ranked Christopher Newport on penalty kicks after the teams played to a 2-2 tie in an NCAA Division III quarterfinal contest on Monday at Kenyon College in Gambier.
Ohio Wesleyan advances to the national semifinals to face Tufts at 2:30 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 5, in Kansas City, Mo.
The Bishops took the lead in the shootout when Bloecher converted the first kick and senior goalkeeper Colin Beemiller (Pickerington/North) saved the kick of Christopher Newport's Sebastian Abrigo.
Captain keeper Mitchell Lagos, who came on for the penalty kick session, bounced back to save a kick by junior midfielder Brian Schaefer (Chatham, N.J.), and CNU's Alex Makumbi evened the shootout at 1-1 with a successful kick, and junior midfielder Lonnie Barnes (Champaign, Ill./Centennial) and CNU's Jimmy Grace traded successful kicks to tie the score at 2-2.
Senior forward Taylor Rieger (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) made his kick to give the Bishops a 3-2 lead, and Beemiller made his second save of the session, denying CNU's Alec Faulkner.
Lee stepped to the spot with the chance to end the shootout with a successful kick, and he converted the opportunity to move Ohio Wesleyan into the national semifinals.
Ohio Wesleyan opened the game playing into the teeth of winds that gusted above 35 miles per hour, and the wind appeared to come into play on the Bishops' first scoring chance. Bloecher sent the ball into the penalty area to Baum, whose header was saved by CNU keeper Sam Lesko. The wind appeared to keep the ball in play, and Baum followed his shot and headed the ball home for a 1-0 Bishop lead just over 3 minutes into the action.
In the 13th minute, CNU's Ryan Balfour sent a header off a crossing pass over the goal, and the Captains' Jalon Brown saw his sliding shot chased down by Beemiller.
Ohio Wesleyan came close to taking a 2-0 lead in the waning minutes of the first half when junior midfielder Gunnar Bloecher (Lewis Center/Olentangy Orange) sent a drive from 25 yards out just over the crossbar.
Barnes had a look from the top of the box in the 50th minute, but Lesko was there for the save.
Baum was fouled inside the penalty area in the 57th minute, and Bloecher stepped to the spot and converted the ensuing penalty kick for a 2-0 Ohio Wesleyan lead.
The Captains closed to within 2-1 with 4:14 left in regulation time when Henry Gotay centered the ball to Grace, who scored into the left corner.
Schaefer had a look at an insurance goal with 1:30 remaining, but his shot was saved by Lesko.
Christopher Newport pulled even when Gotay sent a long pass ahead to Balfour, who scored from just inside the box with :41 to play in regulation time.
The Captains went into the wind during the first overtime but got the first scoring chance of the period, earning a corner kick in the 92nd minute. The Bishop defense blocked a shot by Tommy O'Neal after the corner and was able to clear the ball.
Ohio Wesleyan had a chance during the final minute of the period, with a restart inside the midfield stripe, but senior back Drew Pang sent a header wide of the goal.
Baum had the Bishops' best chance to score during the second overtime period, making a run at the Captain goal only to see Lesko make the save.
"We made it hard on ourselves," said Bishop head coach Jay Martin. "With five minutes left, we were up 2-0, with the wind, and we thought it was over. Even after the first goal, we thought they're not going to score again. The fact is, it's a 90-minute game, and our guys were tired. Give (Christopher Newport) credit -- they kept the ball low, they counterattacked, and they scored two (goals).
"Colton (Bloecher) was great today, Colin (Beemiller) was great again, and our center backs (Lee and Pang) did a great job. Now we have some time to rest and we'll see what happens."
Ohio Wesleyan outshot Christopher Newport, 15-14. Beemiller recorded 2 saves in the Ohio Wesleyan goal. Lesko finished with 5 saves for Christopher Newport.
Box Score
