John Gottwald (South Milwaukee, Wis./South Milwaukee) lifted a perfect free kick into the box and
Sam Novak (Milton, Wis./Milton) connected with a diving header in the 106th minute of play as the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer defeated the University of Chicago 1-0 Saturday afternoon in Whitewater. The Warhawks, 10-3-3, are on an eight game unbeaten streak and have won two in a row.
UW-Whitewater put pressure on the Maroons' defense early, firing four shots before Chicago notched one. Late in the half Chicago put two shots on goal but
Josh Rohde (Waukesha, Wis./Waukesha West) saved both and the teams headed into halftime tied at zero.
The Warhawks appeared to score the go-ahead goal in the 47th minute, but Novak's shot was saved by a Maroon defender standing on the goal line.
Rohde came up big down the stretch making a save on a shot with less than a minute to play. The Warhawk defense helped out too, stifling two corner kicks in the waning moments of regulation.
Neither team had a quality opportunity in the first overtime, but the intensity turned up in the final period. Chicago fired a shot that sailed left of the net just 45 seconds in. Gottwald had a look from about 25 yards out two minutes later but it sailed high. Less than three minutes later Chicago was whistled for a foul and the stage was set for Gottwald and Novak. Gottwald took the kick about 40 yards from the net and lofted the ball to the far post; Novak timed his dive perfectly and headed it past the keeper for the game-winning goal.
The Warhawks are now 2-1-3 in overtime games this season. Rohde made six saves in the game to improve to 7-2-2 this season.
UW-Whitewater coach
Tony Guinn said after the game, "It's a good day to be a Warhawk. We got win number ten, beat a regionally ranked opponent and won in overtime."
The men will be home on Tuesday, October 28th for their next match against Marian University beginning at 7 pm. The Warhawks will wrap-up regular season play next Friday, October 31 when they host UW-Platteville for the Shaymus Guinn Cup.
