ASHLAND, Va. - The Neumann University men's soccer team fell for the second consecutive day in heart-breaking fashion on Sunday afternoon, dropping a 3-2 decision in overtime to Virginia Wesleyan University in non-conference action.
Marlon Trejo factored in on both tallies for the Knights with a goal and an assist on the day, while
Eddie Proud also scored.
Seth Walker made three saves in goal in the loss.
Despite playing its third game in four days, Neumann found enough energy to get off to a solid start in Sunday's tilt. After weathering a few early chances from the Marlins, the Knights struck first in the 17th minute via a penalty kick.
Jon Yinger slipped a ball in behind the Virginia Wesleyan back line to
Alex Zagal, who dribbled around the keeper before being hauled down. Trejo approached the spot on the ensuing spot kick and made no mistake to give Neumann a 1-0 lead. Virginia Wesleyan came close to leveling the scoreline later in the half, but Walker was bailed out by the post as the Knights remained up by a goal at the half.
Sensing that they'd need to add to their lead to keep the Marlins at bay, the tired group of Knights played inspired throughout the opening 25 minutes of the second stanza, scoring in the 52nd minute to make it 2-0 while thoroughly dominating play. The second marker came off a perfectly played corner kick from Trejo.
Chris Siemien leapt over a defender to head the ball back across the box to Proud, who nodded home his first goal of the season to double the Neumann lead.
The final 20 minutes of the contest would be all Virginia Wesleyan though, as the Knights simply ran out of gas in the tank. Neumann held off a barrage of Marlin efforts, including an outstanding penalty kick save from Walker in the 72nd minute, but the team could not hold onto the lead late. Virginia Wesleyan finally broke through in the 85th minute to make it 2-1, then found the equalizer three minutes later to send the Knights reeling into overtime with the score tied at 2-2.
Neumann did it's best to flip the momentum in the extra session, gutting out the first overtime session and creating the best chance of the period on a saved Trejo free kick. However, the Knights once again could not see out the final few minutes of the second overtime session. With under two minutes remaining in the game, Virginia Wesleyan found the game-winning goal off a flicked on header to the back post to clinch the 3-2 come from behind win.
Neumann (1-2) will look shake off the disappointing defeat as it heads home for another non-conference contest versus Penn State Abington on Wednesday afternoon. Game-time is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
