BURNABY, B.C. --- The Western Oregon men's soccer team's
Michael Divano scored a golden goal in the second overtime to give the Wolves a 2-1 win over Seattle Pacific to claim the inaugural men's soccer GNAC Champhionships title Saturday afternoon at SFU Stadium at Terry Fox Field.
The victory gives WOU (11-4-4) the conference's automatic berth into the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Championship for the second year in a row for a program that is in just year four (starting in 2022). The Wolves, who are in Super Region 4 and were ranked 10th heading into the week, will find out where they are going for the opening round 4 p.m. Monday during the selection show at
NCAA.com.
As for Saturday's matchup with Seattle Pacific - who the Wolves tied with for the GNAC title and are ranked No. 3 in the region - WOU fell behind 1-0 in the 30th minute and the score remained that way until the 55th minute when WOU was awarded a penalty kick and GNAC Player of the Year
Yahir Ocampo Navarro converted to make it 1-1.
The score remained that way through the rest of regulation and the first overtime.
Early in the second overtime, Ocampo Navarro cleared a ball nearly 50 yards down field that was tracked down by
Alex Grignon who made a great touch to a sprinting Divano who put it away in the top-right corner to give the Wolves the victory.
In the match, WOU outshot the Falcons (12-4-4) 21-12 - including 10-6 on shots on goals. WOU keeper
Austin Valdez finished with four saves.
Divano was named MVP of the GNAC Championships and to the all-tournament team along with Ocampo Navarro, Grignon, Valdez,
Eli White,
Harper Neubeck and
Pedro Monge-Munoz.
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