Sophomore forward Sean Parham scored 2:23 into overtime as Colorado College stunned CU-Colorado Springs, 4-3, in the season opener for both teams on Thursday afternoon at CC’s Stewart Field.

The Tigers had to re-gain their composure after the Division II Mountain Lions scored a pair of late goals to erase a 3-1 deficit. But unlike a year ago when Colorado College dropped a 3-2 overtime decision in overtime, the Tigers scored the deciding goal and snapped a two-game skid against their cross-town rivals.

“It shows a lot of character by our guys,” head coach Horst Richardson said. “I’m so exceedingly proud of them to not fold because we have been snake-bit in overtime the last two years. I can’t even recall the last overtime game that we won.”

Parham struck for first the first game-winning goal of his career from six yards out, putting the shot over the outstretched arms of UCCS goalkeeper Jarod Thomas and just under the crossbar.

Matt Fechter picked up his third assist of the game, the first game-winning assist of his career, after misfiring on a bicycle kick from 15 yards out on the left side. As the Mountain Lions’ defenders turned toward the goal, Parham was left unattended in the middle of the box.

“I was kind of floating on the back post,” Parham said. “He (Fechter) went up for and miss-hit it, and it comes across the box. None of the defenders stepped in. It was just one of those moments when you have to step in and take it. My main thought was ‘don’t hit it over. Just keep it on frame.’”

Junior goalkeeper Brian Graf stopped six shots in his collegiate debut. He nearly stopped a penalty kick in the 75 minute, but UCCS’s Eric Goldberg’s shot went off his hands and inside the left post.

The Tigers made the most of their chances in the first half. Junior forward Daniel Wright netted his first career goal on CC’s first of the contest in the 13th minute after taking a feed from Parham and putting a shot from the right side into the upper left corner. 

Nearly 17 minutes later, junior midfielder Keith Drury buried a header off a perfect serve by Fechter from outside the box on the right side.

Junior midfielder Scott Kocel gave the Mountains Lions a much-needed boost when knocked home the rebound of a shot by sophomore forward Matthew Cox in the 48th minute, but Colorado College got that one back 3:27 later when sophomore forward Brandon Ogilvie scored on a header off of a Fechter corner kick.

The lead looked secure until Goldberg’s penalty kick in the 75th minute, and UCCS tied the game a little more than 10 minutes later when senior forward Matt Friesen settled a pass from Scott Kocel, spun in the center of the box, and beat Graf with a shot to the upper left corner.

“When they got the third goal, it was do-or-die,” Fechter said. “We were up two goals almost the entire game, and for them to come back like that, it speaks highly of them. For us to respond this way, feels amazing. We have great momentum going into our games on Saturday and Monday.”

Thomas finished with two saves for the Mountain Lions, who finished with a 19-9 edge in total shots and a commanding 8-1 advantage in corner kicks.

 “You have to hand it to them,” Richardson said. “Tactically, they may be better and more poised at this moment. But this was a great learning opportunity for our guys.

“This is a wonderful cross-town rivalry and it will continue. I hope it grows to where half the soccer community in town comes out to see it. There are skilled players and a lot of emotion on both sides. There’s drama. This is entertaining soccer.”

It marked the first time the Tigers scored more than three goals since a 6-1 victory over Oglethorpe University on Oct. 18, 2009. In fact, CC did not score more than twice in any game last season.

Colorado College returns to action on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Kean University.  

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