BRIDGEVIEW, Ill. – Hector Luna leveled in the 82nd minute, and Jose Garcia scored the golden goal four minutes into the second overtime to send the Roosevelt men's soccer team past visiting Judson, 2-1, and into the 2017 Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference Men's Soccer Tournament semifinals with a quarterfinal victory at Toyota Park on Saturday.
The Lakers (10-8) advance to face second-seeded Olivet Nazarene in a semifinal contest at the Snowbarger Athletic Complex in Bourbonnais on Wednesday. Kickoff time will be announced once finalized.
Sixth-seeded Judson (12-7) came to Roosevelt's home field ready to play, standing toe-to-toe with the tournament's third seed. The Eagles controlled possession and stymied the Lakers' attack for most of the first half and into the second period, eventually stunning the Green and White when, shortly after a goal kick, Pedro Rodrigues ran up the right side and sent a shot across the outstretched arms of a diving Gary Mendoza, across the line and into the corner of goal for the game's first strike in the 62nd minute.
Roosevelt still couldn't get much going after falling behind, and time appeared to be running out. The Lakers were awarded a free kick with just under 10 minutes remaining in regulation, and Garcia sent in a ball deep into the box. The service was knocked down to the turf, and Marino Lopez quickly passed it off to Luna, who was in from his center back spot. The junior defender used a half-bicycle, half-karate kick to lift an accelerated ball toward the crossbar, and the ball nicked that bar, bounced past the line and rolled into the net for an equalizer that energized the Roosevelt side.
The two teams played to a standstill for the next 20 minutes, and a few minutes into a second extra session the ball was played to the left corner and controlled by Joe Oswin. The Englishman caught the attention of multiple Judson defenders as they raced to crowd him and the ball. Oswin's tactics helped free up space in front of the Eagles' frame, and he was able to send in a beautifully-struck laser that found the Lakers' four-year finisher. Garcia leapt up, snapped his head upon collision with the ball and redirected the sphere past a frozen Adrian Padilla to score the game-winning goal and send the Laker faithful into a frenzy.
Garcia scored his 12th goal of the year and his 13th career game-winning tally. Luna's goal was his first collegiate goal and points.
Mendoza kept the Lakers in the game with six saves as Judson outshot Roosevelt 16-7.
Roosevelt advances to the CCAC semis for the second time in three years.
