In dramatic fashion, the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater men's soccer team advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament to be played Saturday at 5 pm in Wheaton, Illinois. After playing 110 minutes of scoreless soccer, the Warhawks defeated Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology 4-3 on penalty kicks. The Warhawks, 14-3-2, will face Wheaton (Ill.) on Saturday. The Thunder won their first round match 3-2 with a goal in the final minute of regulation.

The Warhawks wasted little time putting pressure on the Engineers. Justin Stanko (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles North) fired a shot on goal just seven seconds into the match.

UW-W proceeded to rattle off eight unanswered shots between the 14th and 23rd minutes, but could not breakthrough onto the scoreboard.

Warhawk goalkeeper Alex Buchman (Waterford, Wis./Waterford) was finally tested in the 34th minute but was there to make the save.

Sam Novak (Milton, Wis./Milton) put a quality header on goal in the 36th minute but Carter Wright kept it out of the net with his fourth save in the first half.

Buchman made another save on a header in the 50th minute to keep Rose-Hulman off the board, and followed it up with another in the 60th minute to preserve the tie.

Stanko ripped two shots on net in the 71st and 73rd minutes, but Wright was up for the challenge and the game remained scoreless.

In the first overtime period the Engineers tallied the only shot and it happened to be on goal. Buchman made his fifth save of the match to force a second overtime.

Jordan Kayser (Elkhorn, Wis./Elkhorn) had an opportunity to end it in the 106th minute, but Wright made the save and the match went to penalty kicks.

In a rarely seen move, Head Coach Tony Guinn opted to change goalies for penalty kicks. Chris Lucatorto (St. Charles, Ill./St. Charles East) stepped in for Buchman and the decision paid dividends.

The Warhawks capitalized on their first four penalty kicks by Kayser, Jordan Wilkins (Sun Prairie, Wis./Sun Prairie), Sam Novak (Milton, Wis./Milton) and Kyle Ricely (Lombard, Ill./Glenbard East). The Engineers were successful on their first three, but Lucatorto saved the fourth. Stanko had an opportunity to seal the victory with a successful PK but the RHIT keeper saved it to keep the Engineers hopes alive. The fifth, and final player for the Engineers had the chance to send it to additional shooters, but his shot sailed high and the Warhawks won.

UW-W outshot RHIT 32-14 in the match, including 12-5 in shots on goal.

Coincidentally, UW-W advanced to the second round in 2014 to play Wheaton in Wheaton, Illinois. The Warhawks lost 3-0 to the eventual runner-up.

---

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

ECNL Girls N. Atlantic Players to Watch

Women's NCAA Tournament Round Two Preview

Best of Men's College Soccer Week 13