Nov. 22, 2008

AMHERST, Mass. - Andre Akpan made his 10th goal of the season a golden one as Harvard defeated the UMass men's soccer team in double overtime on Saturday in the NCAA Tournament First Round at Rudd Field. After a scoreless regulation and first overtime period, Akpan scored in the 103rd minute of play advancing the Crimson to the NCAA Second Round where they will face eighth-seeded South Florida on Tuesday. The third highest attendance in Rudd Field history turned out for the game at 1,192.

The Minutemen finish the 2008 season with a 10-8-3 overall record after earning a berth to the NCAA Tournament for the second consecutive season. Harvard improves to 12-5-0 overall and will make its 10th appearance all-time in the NCAA Second Round.

"[John] Stamatis played a good ball up to me and I tried to go one-on-one with the defender," Akpan said. "I went to go in the box and tried a cross, but was lucky enough to get it into the far post."

"In a situation like this, it was going to take something dramatic to win the game," said Harvard Head Coach Jamie Clark. "Andre made a good play with the ball on the right side and had a great effort to get it in the net."

Each team had scoring opportunities in regulation, but defensive stands carried the day heading into the overtime periods.

Neither team could find shooting space in the first overtime period. In the second overtime, UMass controlled possession early and looked as if the Minutemen had found the game winner. With the ball loose in the 18-yard box, freshman Chris Roswess (West Springfield, Mass.) gained possession just off the left post. From two yards out, he poked the ball through traffic and seemingly had the game-winner until Harvard's Robert Millock cleared it just off the goal line at the last second.

The Crimson forced a turnover at midfield following UMass' near miss with Akpan gaining possession along the right sideline. He dribbled towards the right corner flag before coming back in towards the 18-yard box. He let loose a perfect shot that snuck between a UMass defender and keeper Zack Simmons (Durham, N.H.) finding itself in the back left side of the goal to end the game.

"I'm proud of our team for fighting back through the season to get to this point," said UMass Head Coach Sam Koch. "I feel for our seniors to have this be their last game. They have done a tremendous job in getting our program to this point."

UMass held a 16-to-12 advantage in shots and an 8-to-3 edge in corner kicks. Each team took one shot in the second overtime period.

Simmons made three saves for the Minutemen, while Austin Harms made one for Harvard.