The Aquinas men's soccer team saw a 2-0 lead turn into a 2-2 deadlock in the final minute of regulation on Friday afternoon (Feb. 26) at the Legacy Center in Brighton. However, the Saints bounced right back and
Jasper Schinkel recorded the game-winning goal just two minutes into overtime to take down Madonna in the WHAC opener, 3-2.
It was AQ's second win to start the 2021 season, having also defeated Cleary 6-0 last Friday (Feb. 19) at the Legacy Center. Friday's win over the Crusaders put Aquinas at 2-0 on the year and 1-0 in WHAC play. Madonna drops to 1-2 overall and 0-1 in league action.
Steffano Riley helped the Saints jump out to a 2-0 lead with AQ's opening two goals. With 14:45 on the clock, he took a free kick from roughly 35 yards out and struck it clean, putting it past the diving Madonna goalie for the early 1-0 edge. The score would remain that way until halftime, with more fouls (18; nine on each team) than shots (AQ led 6-3) in the opening 45 minutes.
Aquinas scored again in the second half, also on a free kick.
Liam Travers sent a long free kick towards the goal and Riley was able to get his head on it and deposit it in the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage at 60:32. The Saints looked to be in control, but Madonna responded.
The Crusaders' Issei Ito cut the AQ lead in half with a goal at 69:09, scoring on a loose ball in front of the net. Both teams had chances to add goals in the next 20 minutes, but nothing came to fruition until Ito again scored – again on a deflection in front of the net – with only 50 seconds remaining in regulation. The game would head to overtime tied at 2-2.
Madonna had the first shot of overtime, but AQ's
Antonio Strassioto made a save to keep the game tied. 70 seconds later,
Jasper Schinkel took a feed from
Theo Maye and scored the game-winning tally at the 92:41 mark for his first collegiate goal.
An aggressive second half saw Madonna outshoot the Saints 11-5 for an overall 15-12 shot advantage. The Crusaders also held a 5-2 edge in corner kicks, while Aquinas committed 17 fouls to 11 for Madonna.
Maye took a team-high four shots, including two on goal, while adding the game-winning assist. Schinkel and Riley each tallied a pair of shots. Strassioto stopped six shots, including a terrific save on Ito late in the first half to keep Aquinas in front at halftime.
AQ will travel to Adrian next Wednesday (Mar. 3) at 7:00 p.m. to take on Siena Heights in the team's first outdoor game of 2021.
