Box Score
MADISON, Wis. - When any game could be the last of the season, the Edgewood College men's soccer team turned to their veterans to provide the offense in a 3-1 victory over Lakeland College in a Northern Athletics Conference Tournament First Round match. Four seniors and a junior accounted for every goal and assist as the third-seeded Eagles advanced to Wednesday's semifinal match in Milwaukee against MSOE.
Edgewood College (12-4-3) had the better of the opportunities early on, and finally broke through in the 23rd minute. Tyler Duellman lined up a free kick from 30 yards out on the left and placed it perfectly in the front of the net. There, Jerrid Dokey leaped and directed a perfect header into the right side netting for his 10th goal of the season.
Seventeen minutes later, the Eagles scored on a goal that was the mirror image of the first. This time Duellman's free kick from right side appeared to be heading wide of the far post, but junior Greg Dezell jumped and got his head on the ball. Despite being at an extreme angle, Dezell was able to direct his header past Muskie goalkeeper Alex Piekarski. It was Dezell's eighth goal of the season and Duellman's fifth assist.
The Eagles' leading goal scorer entering the match, Andriy Apetrey would get a piece of the action early in the second half. Senior Anthony Colletti would dribble from the right wing to the middle and find Apetrey with his back to the goal just inside the penalty area. Apetrey turned hard on his defender and rifled a shot into the upper left corner of the net. With their goals, Apetrey and Dokey together assume the NAC lead in points at 27 each.
With 13 minutes to go, Lakeland College (8-10-1) averted the shutout. Ben Koepsell got loose on the right wing and slid a shot past Eagle goalkeeper Shane Sullivan into the lower right corner. Sullivan earned his 11th victory of the season, making four saves.
Edgewood College head coach Tim Alexander earned his 199th victory of his 20-year career as the Eagles' leader. With one more victory, Alexander will become just the fifth coach in NCAA history to reach both 200 men's soccer wins and 200 women's soccer wins.
Edgewood College advances to next Wednesday's NAC Tournament semifinal against MSOE. The Raiders defeated the Eagles 2-1 earlier this season. The winner of Wednesday's match will play for the NAC Tournament title next Saturday.
