The No. 6 seed University of Findlay men’s soccer team upset No. 2 seed Tiffin 2-1 on Thursday, Nov. 5, in the Great Midwest Athletic Conference Tournament semifinal at Lake Erie College’s Campus Field in Painesville, sending the Oilers to the G-MAC championship match. Senior Carson Oberski scored the unassisted game-winner in the 80th minute, according to reports from both universities’ athletics departments.
Tiffin struck first in the 29th minute, when Callum Ellington scored to put the Dragons up 1-0, Tiffin University Athletics reported. Findlay answered eight minutes later, when Tyson Woodring converted a penalty kick after a Tiffin foul in the box to tie the match 1-1 in the 37th minute, according to University of Findlay Athletics. It was Woodring’s fourth goal of the season, both schools reported.
The match stayed level through halftime and deep into the second half. Findlay Athletics reported a critical team save in the 55th minute that kept Tiffin from retaking the lead, and goalkeeper Ethan Hensley finished with seven saves for the Oilers. Tiffin’s Nick Cherry made eight saves in the full match, according to Tiffin Athletics.
Oberski broke the tie in the 80th minute, seizing on a turnover near midfield, racing downfield and beating the goalkeeper one-on-one for the 2-1 lead, according to Findlay Athletics. Tiffin pressed in the final minutes with three shots and two corner kicks in the last six minutes but could not find an equalizer, Tiffin Athletics reported.
Findlay finished with the edge in shots, 19-16, shots on goal, 10-9, and corner kicks, 7-6, according to both universities. Oberski led Findlay with five shots, four on goal, Findlay Athletics reported. With the win, Findlay improved to 12-5-2, while Tiffin fell to 9-4-6. It was Findlay’s second straight tournament upset, after the Oilers beat No. 3 seed Thomas More in the quarterfinals.
Findlay advances to the G-MAC championship match on Saturday, Nov. 7. Neither university’s semifinal report named the Oilers’ championship opponent, which comes from the tournament’s other semifinal.
Tiffin’s season is not necessarily over: the Dragons now await the NCAA Division II Tournament selection show on Monday, Nov. 9, at 6:30 p.m., according to Tiffin Athletics, to learn whether they receive an at-large berth.
Photo: JJonahJackalope, CC BY-SA