Mishawaka, Ind. - The Aquinas men's soccer team engaged in a terrific back-and-forth NAIA National Tournament opening round battle against Tennessee Wesleyan on Thursday night (Nov. 16). In a game that saw three goals scored in both halves, the Bulldogs prevailed 4-3 by scoring the game-winning goal with 18 seconds remaining in the second overtime.

It was an opening round neutral site game at Bethel University in Mishawaka, Ind., as the #6 Pilots would host the game and face the winner in Saturday's (Nov. 18) second round. Both Aquinas and Tennessee Wesleyan were listed in the receiving votes category of the final regular season national poll. 

Some of the facts and figures that came from Thursday night's contest were remarkable. Both Tennessee Wesleyan (12-4-5) and Aquinas (14-4-3) scored in the game's first four minutes. The Saints then netted two consecutive goals midway through the second half for their first lead of the game, only to see the Bulldogs respond with an equalizer 17 seconds later. 

The teams stayed square through one overtime before the game's final shot came with 18 seconds remaining, getting past the AQ defense for the eventual winning goal. Aquinas had not given up more than two goals in any game this season, yet Tennessee Wesleyan managed to strike four times, though it took essentially 110 minutes to do so.

There were 34 combined fouls and six yellow cards called on each team. AQ fell despite a massive 12-1 advantage in corner kicks, with 10 of those coming in the second half when the Saints dominated possession and took their lone advantage.

Tennessee Wesleyan came out of the gates quickly, striking just 67 seconds into the contest on a tally from Sifiso Ngwenya. Two and a half minutes later, the Saints knotted things up at 1-1. AQ recorded back-to-back corner kicks and made the second one count. The ball was played into the box and eventually made its way to Jesunifemi Ojutalayo after a header. Ojutalayo, the WHAC Defensive Player of the Year, used his head to put the ball in the net for his third goal of the season. Tevan Jones was credited with the assist. 

Just 3:36 into the game, the teams had both connected on goals. Tennessee Wesleyan's Grant Barron made it 2-1 exactly eight minutes later with a goal for the Bulldogs. The score would remain the same for the next 52 minutes. TWU outshot Aquinas in the first 45 minutes, 8-2, while 18 of the 34 fouls were called in the opening half.

In the 64th minute, the Saints drew a foul on Tennessee Wesleyan and were awarded a penalty kick. Andrea Ghiggini easily put it past the Bulldog keeper with a perfect kick to the bottom right side of the net, tying the game at 2-2. It was Ghiggini's sixth goal of the year and fourth PK tally.

Eight minutes later, the Saints struck again. At 71:50, Jasper Schinkel took a free kick from near midfield and the ball appeared to deflect off the head of a Tennessee Wesleyan defender. Whether or not Ghiggini ever got a touch on the ball, it finished in the back of the net and Ghiggini was credited with his second goal of the contest. The goal gave AQ a 3-2 lead and marked Ghiggini's seventh goal this season, second-most on the team. Schinkel received the well-earned assist.

However, the next shot of the game stunningly tied the contest up again - just 17 seconds later. Kuda Nhiwatiwa netted the equalizer at the 72:07 mark, continuing this wild back-and-forth postseason game that was tied for the third time. Aquinas recorded two corners and two shots the remaining 18 minutes, but the game would head to overtime, tied at 3-3.

Tennessee Wesleyan registered both shots in the first overtime period and the teams would head to the second session. Josh Freeman-Wright's header five minutes into the second overtime was saved, which was AQ's lone shot in the 20 minutes of overtime periods.

Less than 30 seconds from advancing to a penalty kick shootout - which would've been appropriate, considering the stressful battle between these two evenly matched teams - the Bulldogs shockingly won the game. After a save was made by the Saints, TWU sent another ball into the box and it was headed into the net by Dylan Connell for the 4-3 advantage. While there are no golden goals in the postseason, Aquinas was unable to record a shot attempt in the closing seconds, with the Bulldogs prevailing in the 110-minute classic.

Tennessee Wesleyan outshot the Saints, 19-12, including a 14-9 edge in shots on goal. Aquinas keeper Antonio Strassioto made seven saves in net.

Schinkel attempted a team-high three shots; he and Ghiggini each took two shots on goal. Jones and Joshua Clemitson also attempted multiple shots in the contest. 

It was a heartbreaking loss for the Saints in what was a terrific 2023 season. AQ finished 14-4-3 and went 8-1-2 en route to the program's first WHAC regular season championship since 2010. It was the team's third NAIA National Tournament appearance and the first since the 2012 campaign.