Box Score Case Western Reserve University senior forward Alex Besl connected on a header off a free kick by sophomore midfielder Connor Weber just over three minutes into the first overtime period on Friday evening to give the 11th-ranked Spartans a 3-2 victory over the ninth-ranked University of Rochester in a University Athletic Association contest in Rochester, New York.
The win raised CWRU's overall record to 13-2-1, including a 3-1-1 mark in UAA play. The Yellowjackets dropped to 11-2-1 overall and 2-2-1 in the conference.
The victory was Case Western Reserve's fourth overtime win this season and the fifth win over a ranked opponent at the time of play.
Junior midfielder Garrett Winter put the Spartans on the board early in the first half, scoring on a header via a corner kick from junior forward Zachary Senft at the 3:27 mark. The goal was Winter's team-leading eighth goal of the season.
Rochester responded in the 32nd minute when Patrice Douge notched his second goal of the season after he recovered a deflected ball and found the back of the net from 12 yards out. The score would remain even at 1-1 for only three minutes before sophomore defender Nathan Ekberg found the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season. Ekberg received a corner kick from Weber and headed it into the goal.
The score remained 2-1 in the Spartan's favor until the 65th minute of play, when Nik Angyal found Ulrik Koren on a cross from the right wing. Koren was able to finish as he tapped the ball in from the far post for his third goal of the season.
The two schools battled throughout the remainder of regulation, but neither were able to find the back of the net. Early in the first overtime period, Weber launched a ball off of a free kick and Besl was able to head it to the lower left corner of the net. It was the seventh goal of the season for Besl, while the assist was Weber's second of the game.
Freshman goalkeeper Charlie Fink played the entirety of the game converting two saves. He improved to 13-2-1 on the year with the victory.
The Spartans outshot the Yellowjackets 12-10 in the game, as Senft finished the contest with a team-high three shots, while Ekberg added two shots on goal.
Case Western Reserve will return to action on Sunday, October 28th at 11:00 a.m., as they travel to Atlanta Georgia to face the Emory University Eagles.
