Blue Knights tie Iowa Western 0–0 after two overtimes, but fall short in tiebreaker
On Saturday, Nov. 1, in Mason City, Iowa, the 2008 season concluded for DCTC men’s soccer with the semifinal game against Iowa Western Community College in the NJCAA Region XI Tournament.
With a scoreless tie ending regulation play, the two teams battled over the course of two 10-minute overtimes. A penalty kick shootout ultimately advanced IWCC to the championship game, sending DCTC home for the year.
The eventual regional champion, Iowa Western made two of five penalty kicks. DCTC went 0–4. DCTC came close to victory in regulation, hitting the crossbar twice, once on a breakaway and once with a free kick from 19 yards.
Coach Cam Stoltz reported that freshman goalkeeper Derek Randall (Marshall School Duluth) “came up huge” in regulation, making two pointblank saves. He also saved two penalty kicks during the shootout.
“Derek and our entire team defense gave us a chance to get to the final,” Stoltz said. “It was a great game with a disappointing conclusion.”
The Knights split their regular season games with Western, which also won the Iowa Community College Conference title. Western moves on to the NJCAA Division One Final 16 and will play Saturday, Nov. 8, at South Suburban College in South Holland, Ill.
DCTC has advanced to the regional semifinals five years in a row. The loss to IWCC was the third time that the Blue Knights have fallen in the semifinal round in a game decided after regulation time.
The men’s soccer team won 10 of their last 12 games to post an 11–7–2 season record.
“We are proud of the way our team competed,” Stoltz said. “We played better and better as the year progressed. While it’s sad for our sophomores, it’s encouraging for the program.”
