Wabash seniors Devin Moss, Mike Kaster, and Thomas Hanewald hoped to finish their Wabash soccer careers with one final victory. A goal by Oberlin in the second overtime period at Mud Hollow Field Saturday afternoon brought an end to the 2008 season with a 3-2 victory over the Little Giants.
View photos from the Senior Day activities and the match here.
The double-overtime win by Oberlin came one year after Wabash beat the Yeomen 2-1 in overtime in 2007.
"We played extremely well, probably the best we’ve played this year," head coach Roberto Giannini said. "I’m very proud of the way we played. We just don’t seem to catch a break. We played a very good team in Oberlin. They are well-coached and execute well, but we played with them step for step."
Wabash fell behind 1-0 before freshman Austin Jennings scored his team-leading ninth goal of the season in the 39th minute to draw the Little Giants even. Wabash would take an early second-half lead when Matt Kaster finished a pass from Andrew Pearcy with a shot into the back of the net for a 2-1 score.
Twenty minutes later, Oberlin’s Skyler Dum brought the match even again, eventually sending the game into the first of two extra periods.
Neither team could score in the first extra session, despite a header by Mark Babcock that could have ended the game if not for a save by Oberlin goalkeeper Zach Lipshultz. With time winding down in the second overtime period, Wyatt Hayman got free and collected a pass from Pete Sabo for the game-winner.
Oberlin finished with nine shots on goal to Wabash’s six. Jennings led the way for the Little Giants with three shot on goal. Moss made four saves as the starting goalkeeper for Wabash, while Phil Rosborough collected two saves in relief.
"I’m convinced that we can become a force to be reckoned with if we continue to improve," Giannini said. "We gained a great deal of experience with some young players getting a lot of playing time. With continued improvement during the offseason along with some key recruits I think we can be a very solid soccer team in 2009."
Wabash finishes the season with a record of 5-10-4 and an 0-8-1 North Coast Athletic Conference mark.