LUBBOCK, Texas – Junior Rafael Vasconcellos' golden goal in the second period of overtime lifted the Buff soccer team to a 1-0 victory over Lubbock Christian. With his goal, Vasconcellos became the 10th different WT player to score a game-winner this season. With the win, the Buffs improve to 11-3-1and 8-2-1 in Heartland Conference play while the Chaps fell to 4-10-1 (3-7-1).
"I thought we played really well for a majority of the match," said WT men's soccer head coach Butch Lauffer. "I feel like we did a good job of controlling the match but we need to be better in front of goal. We had a lot of good chances and were not able to connect but good thing Rafael was there to bail us out."
WT's best chance in the first half came in the 26th minute when Thomas Vickers, Gabe Williams, Evan Bozman and Michael Garcia all had shots on goal in succession. Vickers got on the end of a long throw which resulted in save from LCU goalkeeper Fernando Rios. Gabe Williams got on the end of push save from Rios which resulted in his shot hitting the crossbar before Bozman sent it off the right post. Garcia got on the end of the reflection off William's shot and sent it off the cross bar and out of bounds.
Williams would hit the crossbar for a second time in the half at 33:56 after making a long run and showing off some fancy footwork to find space from Rios before getting a shot off.
WT finished the first half with 11 shots compared to LCU's three.
The Buffs best chance in the second half came at 71:05 on a shot from Mirza Dizdarevic. The junior midfielder got on the end of a loose ball just inside the penalty box but was unable to get a clean shot away as he sent it over the crossbar.
WT finished regulation with 21 shots, 10 of those coming in the second half.
Tom Cowling came within inches of winning in the first overtime at 92:18 after chipping Rios but the cross bar was there to deny the senior defender. The Buffs continued to press for the game-winner and nearly got it at 98:29 but Rios was there once again to deny Rios.
The Buffs were denied by the crossbar at the start of the second overtime period in the 102nd minute when Ryan Kennedy got on the end of a Jake Wiffen corner kick. But WT didn't have to wait much longer for a goal as Vasconcellos won the match for the Buffs in the 103:25 beating Rios to the far post giving WT's its second golden goal of the season. The Rio de Janiero, Brazil native timed his run perfectly to get on the end of Ivan Ulloa's through ball just inside the penalty box on the right side.
The Buffs finished the match with 28 shots, 13 of those on goal.
Junior goalkeeper Patrick Satorie made two save picking up his ninth shutout of the season tying Shane Taylor's school record.
"Pat has been great this season, I don't think we can say enough about him," Lauffer added. "He has really improved in many different aspects thanks his desire to become better and the coaching from Coach Crowder. With that being said, I don't think the backline gets enough credit. They have been great at communicating and working as a unit making Pat's job a little easier.
The Buffs will now return home for its final home match of the season on Saturday, Oct. 22 at 1 p.m. where they will honor five seniors.
Notes:
· With the win, the Buffs now lead the all-time series 3-2-0.
· Satorie now has a 19 career shutouts, two short of Sebastian Furness' school record of 21.
· Reece Schattle, Tom Cowling and Rafael Vasconcellos all had a team-high three shots.
· The Buffs have won 11 matches in a season for the first time since they won 12 in 2013.
· Ivan Ulloa picked up second assist of the season on Vasconcellos' game-winner.
