Northwestern University Athletics
Northwestern
St. Francis (Pa.)
Wildcats Win in Double Overtime, Claim Lakeside Title Crown
9/4/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Sept. 4, 2005
Box Score
Northwestern vs. St. Francis box score
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EVANSTON, Ill. -- No. 17 Northwestern capped off the second half of the Third Annual Lakeside Classic by topping St. Francis (Pa.) in double-overtime, 1-0, Sunday, Sept. 4.
The first half was a defensive stalemate, with neither team scoring in the first 45 minutes.
While the Wildcats weren't able to light up the board in the first half, they did control the ball a majority of the time, with a few scoring chances off of corner kicks that just missed.
At 25:30 Brad Napper (Dallas, Texas/Jesuit College Prep) took a corner kick from David Roth (St. Louis, Mo./Chaminade College Prep) but sent it just high.
The `Cats had another close call after Brad North (The Woodlands, Texas/The Woodlands) was fouled by a Red Flash player. On the ensuing indirect kick, Jaro Pylypczak (Lombard, Ill./Benet Academy) leapt and headed the ball just inches high of the post.
After halftime, the `Cats again put themselves in position to score, but didn't convert their opportunities.
At 49:00, Dave Vargas (North Olmstead, Ohio/St. Ignatius) sent a shot on goal from 12 yards out. St. Francis' Bobby Pipech made the initial save, but let the ball leak out about five yards in front of him. Junior Will Nicholas (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) was right there for the rebound, but the Red Flash keeper made the point blank save.
The game went in to the final ten minutes of regulation and the Wildcats turned up the intensity. Five of the Wildcats' 16 shots in regulation came within the last ten minutes.
With six minutes to play, Pylypczak dribbled deep into St. Francis' territory. He sent a cross to Vargas who headed it backwards to North. North took the shot, but it sailed just wide right of the goal.
Only two minutes later, Vargas streaked down the near sideline and sent a left-footer just high of the goal. The Wildcats would get off one more shot before the end of regulation, a North header that went just inches high of the goal.
The first overtime proved to be very similar to regulation. The `Cats were able to get off two shots, but neither would go to the back of the net.
Finally, the second overtime period produced what the fist 100 minutes would not. After Kevin Earnest (Lemont, Ill./Lemont) took a cross from Roth, he blasted to the right of the Pipech for the match winner.
With the 1-0 win, the Wildcats won the Third Annual Lakeside Classic for the second consecutive year.
In the earlier match, Northern Illinois and Western Kentucky tied after going scoreless for 110 minutes. The match was very defense-oriented, but Northern Illinois did outshoot Western Kentucky, 12-4.
For the tournament, Northwestern went 2-0, Northern Illinois 1-0-1, Western Kentucky 0-1-1 and St. Francis (Pa.) 0-2.
The Lakeside Classic All-Tournament team was announced immediately following the Wildcats' win. The team includes: Bobby Pipech (St. Francis), Jeremy Tice (St. Francis) Richard Mupfudze (WKU) Steven Medlock(WKU), Curt Zastrow (NIU), Kevin Woerner (NIU), Justin McGrane (NIU), David Roth (NU), Kevin Earnest (NU) and Brad North (NU) round out the all-tournament team. Northwestern senior Brad Napper named tournament Most Valuable Player.
The Wildcats are now 2-0 on the season, and will be back in action at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9 at UC Santa Barbara.
