This post was written by staff writer Alex Abnos
Despite a red card and a rash of injuries, the GW men’s soccer team’s final push for the A-10 postseason is still on track today after as scintillating 3-2 double overtime win against Duquesne.
Freshman Yoni Berhanu scored the winning goal for the under-manned Colonials only 50 seconds before the end of sudden death overtime. As the ball rolled over the line, the GW bench cleared as the entire team piled on top of Berhanu to celebrate the goal.
“I couldn’t process it at first. I saw it go in and I thought about doing some kind of celebration but I got tackled (in celebration) before I could do anything,” said Berhanu, who nearly wasn’t even on the field during the game’s final minutes. Head coach George Lidster had tried to substitute the freshman on the play previous to the goal, but the referee wouldn’t allow him to do so, forcing Berhanu to come back into the game on two bad legs.
However, that didn’t prevent the freshman from sprinting all the way from the midfield line to the box, where he would score the winner.
“I thought that at least I can ice it after the game, so I might as well run up there now and try and get a goal,” Berhanu said, before chuckling “Lidster said that they only thing the ref did right today was accidentally leaving me on.”
Berhanu’s goal was preceded by 109 minutes of extremely physical play, as the teams combined for 51 fouls and four yellow cards. The physicality would reach a boiling point in overtime, as GW junior Andrew Kroculick delivered a hard tackle to Duquesne goalkeeper Chris Torres as he attempted a clearance far outside his penalty area. Duquesne defender Gavin Stabbe took exception to Kroculick’s challenge, shoving the New Jersey native as the referee stopped play to allow medical staff to treat the injured Torres. The incident set off a minor scuffle between the two teams, and by the end Kroculick had been given his marching orders, while Stabbe escaped with only a yellow card.
“I thought it was a bit unfortunate,” Lidster said after the game. “There was no maliciousness in the tackle, but with (Kroculick’s) studs showing, really the referee didn’t have any choice but to give the red card. But he certainly could have given a red card to the guy that shoved him afterwards.”
The physicality also forced Lidster to make full use of his bench players. Freshman defender Jake Davis was helped off the field after a tough collision in the 70th minute, and appeared to be nursing his right ankle on the sidelines. Junior Eric Perez-Segnini also saw limited time despite scoring a goal, and had ice on his right foot following the match. Freshman striker Ryan Rufing was also an injury worry, as the Massachusetts native appeared to be struggling with leg cramps throughout his 75 minutes of time.
Lidster will have to hope that his squad can heal and recover quickly – their season finale against St. Bonaventure is only one day away. The match will in theory be the final regular season appearance at Mount Vernon for seniors Matt Scheer and Dave Leon, though Leon is a doubt for the game as injuries prevented him from playing any part in today’s game.
