(admin) Published
Thursday, December 01, 2022 – 09:02 PM
DECATUR, Ala. – Sadam Masereka scored in the 94th minute during the first overtime period to propel the Blue Raiders to a 1-0 victory over No. 2-seeded Dalton State (Ga.) on Thursday at Jack Allen Soccer Complex.
At the end of regulation, tied at 0-0, the Blue Raiders (13-6-4) and the Roadrunners (16-2-3) were set for two, 10-minute, overtime periods to determine the winner.
A misplayed ball by the Dalton State backline brought DSC keeper Michael Barrueta way outside the box and even though he deflected the ball, the speed of Masereka allowed him to recover and score the game-winner in the 94th minute. Masereka chipped a charging keeper before finishing into a wide-open goal.
In the second overtime, the Roadrunners were pushing high trying to find the equalizer, but the LWC defense was able to clear away any threats.
The win moves the Blue Raiders to 8-0-1 in their last nine contest and is their fourth straight upset win of the NAIA National Championship Tournament.
Dalton State was the aggressor out of the gate, generating three shots in the first five minutes of play, with the third being saved by LWC keeper Pablo Costa. The first quality chance for the Blue Raiders came in the 16th minute as Anouar Adam crossed the ball across the face of a goal. A diving Jaland Larmond‘s header flew high.
As the first half ticked down, the frenetic pace died away with only four shots taken over the last 30 minutes of play, three of which were loaded up by Lindsey Wilson
Between the 45th and 60th minutes of action, only one shot and one corner kick was taken – both by the Blue Raiders’ Alexander Koziolek. Lindsey Wilson had the Roadrunners off balance in the second half as DSC generated their first shot attempt at 65:22 which went wide left off the foot of Leonardo Seixas.
One minute later, Seixas dialed up another attempt, this time saved by Costa.
The prodding style of the Blue Raiders paid off as they slowly worked the ball up the pitch with 30 minutes remaining. Monwabisi Mngqibisa received the ball and slipped it to Masereka whose attempt was saved by DSC’s Barrueta. The effort was the Blue Raiders’ best of the second half.
The Blue Raiders outshot their counterparts 14-8 including 6-2 in shots on goal. Costa finished with his second straight clean sheet as he hasn’t allowed a goal in over just over 259 minutes of action.
Lindsey Wilson advances to face No. 3 Mobile (Ala.) on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. CST in the NAIA National Championship Semifinals.
Dalton State
Lindsey Wilson College
Soccer Men’s
Mid-South Conference
Southern States Athletic Conference
Game Results