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Radio Call of Kovach's Game-Winner (WVMM Radio)
San Antonio, TX – Sophomore
Mike Kovach punched in a game-winner in the 99th minute of a heart-stopping, edge-of-your-seat thriller between Messiah and Loras on Friday, sending the Falcons to the National Final on Saturday, Dec. 1.
Kovach's score came with just 1:21 remaining in the game's first overtime, as he tallied the game's only goal off an assist from classmate
Jeremy Payne. The score came after Payne turned into the right side of the box from the midfield, attacking to the end line and sending a sharp serve across the opening of the goal. Loras keeper Dylan Milkent deflected the cross into the air, with the ball then bouncing to waist height as Kovach fired a shot from five yards out.
The score sent the Falcons streaming onto the field in jubilation, with Loras' players falling onto the field in disappointment.
"That was an exhausting game, and having the opportunity to put one in is a huge relief," Kovach said of the game and his goal. "It was a great moment, but now we'll put it behind us and get ready for the next one."
Kovach's score was his fourth in the past three NCAA Tournament games for Messiah. With the win, the Falcons advance to play Ohio Northern on Saturday at 1:30 p.m. CT (2:30 p.m. ET). The Polar Bears defeated the William College Ephs 3-2 on Friday afternoon.
The thrilling end to the Falcons' game was only fitting, considering Messiah and Loras played at a track meet-type pace from start to finish—the result of a battle of styles on the field. Loras' long volleys and high-pressure was a constant challenge to the Falcons' possession-oriented approach, creating a fever pace on the field. With seemingly every turn of control leading to a scoring opportunity, the two teams combined for 37 shots—a significant total for a Final Four match-up.
"They had a plan and they stuck to it," Messiah head coach
Brad McCarty said of the Duhawks' attack. "They're well-coached, with an extremely effective style. As the game went on, we were able to impose our will a bit more. But even then there were opportunities for them to counter. It was a good match."
At the outset to the contest, it was apparent that Loras' approach would cause constant havoc. The Duhawks aligned with three strikers across the top, forcing the Falcons' defenders to continuously communicate through midfield and weakside runs. Loras almost capitalized on two such situations in the first 12 minutes, as Messiah managed to limit the damage to shots from beyond the penalty box.
"Early on, I think we got tired," McCarty said, commenting on the game's frantic start. "We had trouble tracking their midfielders, and there were a few broken plays in which they ended up open. It occurred less as the game wore on, because they tired a bit."
Though Loras was not able to keep up their frantic pace for all 99 minutes, their pressure did not allow Messiah to possess as much as they'd like.
"We wanted to play high pressure, to disrupt them at all times," Loras head coach Dan Rothert said, reflecting on his team's approach and willingness to play all 23 guys on the roster. "We wanted to battle for every second and not them turn. It's a disappointing finish for us, but I'm proud of our guys."
Though finishing the day disappointed, the Duhawks had plenty of chances to grab a lead against the Falcons. In the 13th minute of play, Sean Lewis nearly put Loras ahead with a clear shot from just eight yards out. His attempt was against the run of play—a theme of the game—with Messiah keeper
Brandon West making a quick grab one the goal line for the save.
Just eight minutes later, West was forced to make a sliding grab in front of the goal on a left-sided cross from Brad Joiner. His slide just beat the run to the goal of Ryan Schneider.
The sophomore keeper collected two saves in first half, coming up big for the Falcons in a physical game. Twice did he collide with Duhawk players in the first 45 minutes, including a cleats-up slide of Schneider that resulted in a yellow card.
With West and the Messiah defense stifling Loras' high pressure, the Falcons also found scoring chances of their own. None in the first half was better than an opportunity by
Joshua Wood in the 25th minute, as he found himself one-on-one with Milkent in the middle of the Duhawks' box. After arriving that deep by way of a slide through two defenders, Wood had to reach for his shot, allowing Milkent to block the attempt and corral possession.
As the first-half dwindled, Loras began to tire a bit from their all-out approach, though Messiah was unable to capitalize with a score. With the Duhawks outshooting Messiah seven to six, the teams entered the half scoreless.
The start to the second half favored Messiah's tempo—except for Loras' best chance all afternoon to net a goal. Again countering against the run of play, the Duhawks' volley into the midfield resulted in a three-on-two break against the Falcons. Johnny Rummelhart was soon fed the ball on his run down the left sideline, with his attack taking him to the box for a clear shot against West. His sharp shot was grabbed by West, with a collective sigh of relief coming from the Falcons' faithful in the stands.
Exactly 60 seconds later—in the game's 48th minute— Messiah's
Jack Thompson also found a chance to break the scoreless tie, with his hard strike from the top of the 18-yard line getting slightly deflected by a Loras defender and landing over the crossbar.
Though Messiah did manage to own more territory as the second-half moved forward, both teams battled hard to find chances to go ahead on the scoreboard. Loras' leading scorer, junior midfielder Kevin Cavers, almost provided such a score in the 56th minute of action, as a long throw-in from the left side was cleared to his feet just 23 yards out in the midfield. A quick shot sailed through a crowded Falcons' box, getting deflected before West made a sudden save on the goal line.
The fierce battle continued into the final 10 minutes of regulation, with both teams finding a great chance to go ahead before the overtime. Messiah's attempt came off the foot of Payne, as the Falcons' leading scorer took possession in the midfield and drove hard into the right side of the box. His shot from 10 yards out on the right angle went just wide of the near post, with Milkent diving to be sure the ball would not slip through.
Less than a minute later, Loras' Tom Fluegel took a shot past one Messiah defender from the top of the 18-yard line, with West's dive not reaching the ball as it caromed off the left post.
Minutes later, the teams entered overtime still tied at 0-0. It was Loras' second overtime contest of the season; for Messiah it was their fifth.
The overtime period was played with the same intensity as the first 90 minutes, though it was apparent that both teams were dealing with fatigue. Loras' best chance in the extra session would be their last, a flick in the box off a long throw-in that went three yards wide of the right post.
Two minutes after that attempt, Payne's cross resulted in the emphatic score by Kovach, sending Messiah to their ninth National Final in program history.
"We used to call D.T. 'Mr. November,'" McCarty said after the game with a smile, referring to the career NCAA performances of 2011 graduate
Danny Thompson. "With Mike getting a fourth goal in three games, maybe we have a new Mr. November."
Messiah took five shots in the overtime period, finishing with 23 on the afternoon. Loras finished with 14 shots, while the Falcons also took seven corners against the Duhawks' four.
The loss finished Loras' season at 23-2-1.
"We have guys that really bought in and brought us this far," Rothert said. "This was a good battle and I'm proud of our guys. It just took one bad bounce to beat us. Sometimes soccer can be an evil game."
The win moves No. 1 Messiah to 22-0-2, as they're also now 2-0 against Loras all-time after also defeating the Duhawks in the NCAA National Semifinal in 2008.
Messiah's match-up with No. 10 Ohio Northern on Saturday will be the first time ever that the two programs have squared-off against each other. The Polar Bears will enter the National Final with a record of 25-2.
