In what turned out to be a grueling night of games filled with overtime, this late match proved no different. Mixed throughout ADG/Gamma Phi and Phi Psi/Theta Phi Co-Rec teams were players undoubtedly running on emotion and excitement, with some having played in as many as 8 games during the three-day tournament.
Although at first seeming to be an inevitable showdown between the men of each team, the ladies quickly stepped up. Notably, Edie Burns of ADG/Gamma Phi bared no mercy while going against proven bullies on the field, such as Josh Aranguiz of Phi Psi/Theta Phi. In a game filled with numerous miracle saves by each team’s respective defender, it was clear that offense would be the true determining factor of the night.
With championship t-shirts at stake, the men of Phi Psi/Theta Phi, with their especially competitive nature, gave 110% from the first sound of the ref’s whistle. This, however, proved to be no match, if not a mistake, against the better rested, yet equally ailing men of ADG/Gamma Phi. With two players in particular, having finished a physical double overtime game hours earlier, sitting out all but 2 minutes of the first half proved to be exactly what they needed. Moments after Phi Psi/Theta Phi’s unwavering efforts became fruitful, ADG/Gamma Phi seemed to get a second wind, quickly scoring the tying goal.
Being the last game of this treacherously cold and long night, regulation time came and went, with too many promising shots just barely missing their marks. The real excitement was yet to come. With many fearful that there would be yet another double overtime game still ending in a tie, ADG/Gamma Phi had something else in store. After utilizing his unrivaled ball control skills for most of the game, Jared Koscheski orchestrated one last offensive push as time ticked onward in this Golden Goal Overtime. In what would prove to be the last efforts of the game, Koscheski dribbled up the sideline yet again, but this time, finding a teammate wide-open coming up the middle, needing only to swiftly boot the ball straight ahead.
In a matter of seconds, the simplest of actions led to a ball rolling right down the middle, scoring a seemingly uncontested goal. After many attempted headers, crosses, and shanked shots, Scott Gilliland and Jared Koscheski proved to be a winning combination for ADG/Gamma Phi. As the ball left Gilliland’s foot, time seemed to slow down while the impossible suddenly rolled within reach. Followed by a flash of hesitation, a tangible sigh of relief indicated the game had come to its end. Despite the abrupt end to the Golden Goal Overtime, Phi Psi/Theta Phi put forth a tremendous amount of effort that will remain just as memorable as the winning goal itself.
Most Notable Players of the Game:
everywhere at every time: Matthew Brill & his tucked in jersey
biggest force in small package: Edie & her life-sized bruise of Josh
sacrificial lamb: Colleen's face & the ball Josh probably kicked. Twice.
from head to toe: after hitting the ball with their head more times than their feet, they proved they can score a game-winner nonetheless.
Drum roll please…Josh Aranguiz!
None other than Scott E. Gilliland. As if you didn’t know =)
