NOVEMBER 12, 2008
KING'S MEN'S SOCCER DOWNS WIDENER 4-3 IN OT TO REACH ECAC SEMI'S
WILKES-BARRE – Senior forward Cameron Audette scored twice, including the tying goal with 1:35 left in regulation, and then the game winner in overtime as the top-seeded King's College men's soccer team posted a thrilling 4-3 victory over eighth-seeded Widener University in the opening round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Southern Region Championships Wednesday evening at McCarthy Stadium.
With the win, King's improved to 14-1-5 on the year while Widener ended its season at 9-9-3. The victory also propels King's into the semi-finals, which the Monarchs.
King's would take a 1-0 lead after 17:07 expired in the first half when Joe Bender struck net following a perfect through ball to the middle of the box by Cameron Audette.
Widener would tie the score with 33:14 remaining when Dan Lorenzet corralled a pass from 30 yards out and outraced a King's defender before placing the ball in the upper right corner of the net. The Pride would then take a 2-1 lead with 21:57 left in the contest when Bill James scored on a direct kick, his shot etching just inside the right post. Widener struck again just 0:45 later when Doug Gabel scored on a short cross inside the box off an assist by Brian James with 21:12 remaining.
King's would cut the lead to 3-2 when Bender knocked in a loose ball in front of the Widener net with 7:39 on the clock. The Monarchs would tie the score at 3-3 with just 1:35 remaining when Audette drilled a shot inside the right post, sending the game into overtime.
The contest would end when Audette received the ball on the right wing and cut right, before juling sa defender and slicing back to the middle. After another defender attempted to tackle the Monarch senior, Audette made another move left to create additional space and drilld a left-footed shot into the open net form 12 yards out.
In all, Audette finished the game with two goals and one assist while Bender tallied a pair of scores for the Monarchs. In the process, Audette became the all-time leading points scorer at King's, scoring 41 goals and 19 assists for 101 points. His totals also make him the record holder in career goals and tied for first in assists. Audette's 20 goals this season are also the best in school history.
King's held a 12-7 advantage in shots while also holding a 7-2 advantage in corner kicks. Monarch goalie Tim Kelly made three saves while Widener keeper Marty Squicciarini posted five stops.
In other ECAC opening round games, second-seeded Frostburg defeated Washington & Jefferson 1-0. Third-seeded Catholic bested sixth-seeded Wesley 3-1. Fifth seeded Wilkes downed fourth-seeded Penn State Behrend 2-1.
The semi-finals and finals will be held Saturday and Sunday at King's McCarthy Stadium. Frostburg will meet Catholic, while King's faces Wilkes. Game times will be determined on Thursday.
