POUGHKEEPSIE, N.Y. (9/25/13) – Freshman Akwasi Adu scored twice in the final seven minutes – including a strike 13 seconds into overtime – to complete an epic comeback for the Kean University men’s soccer team against Vassar College on Wednesday.

The teams combined for four goals in the game’s frantic endgame in which the Cougars came from behind twice. In a play that should not be forgotten, Gordon Lyng knotted the match with a header just 1:09 left to play in regulation.

Trailing 1-0 for 75 minutes, the sun seemed to be setting on the Cougars’ comeback hopes before Adu scored his first of the game on a loose ball in the box. The freshman showed good patience by chipping the ball over the goalkeeper for the game-tying goal, his fourth of the year.

However, in the 88th minute, Vassar’s Tom Wiechert scored for the second time in the match – a goal that put the Brewers just two minutes away from the victory.

Down to desperation time, Kean earned a corner late in the 89th minute. Kevin Olaya served the ball in and Lyng headed the ball into the lower right corner to tie the game again as Kean’s bench exploded in celebration.

Finally, the game went to overtime – but not for long. Directly from the kickoff, Adu chipped the ball into an empty net after a miscommunication between the Brewer goalkeeper and center-back to give Kean a stunning 3-2 overtime victory.

Kean outshot Vassar 23-16 and Brad Watkins made seven saves as he earned the win.

The first half was relatively even. Despite the fact that the Brewers’ Wiechert had the game’s only goal (on an assist from Nick Page), Kean had taken more shots (9-5) and had been called for only half as many fouls as the hosts. Edgardo Alfaro had a pair of shots for the Cougars in the first 45.

Kean continued to pressure Vassar into the second half. Midway through the second period the Cougars had tested the VC goal with three shots on net but Ryan Grimme was able to snag each one of them to keep his sheet clean until Adu’s magic kicked in.

Kean will return to NJAC play on Saturday when the Cougars host the Scarlet Raptors of Rutgers-Camden at 1 p.m. on Kean’s East Campus.

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