ST. CHARLES, Missouri --- Houston Christian University got a late penalty kick winner off the foot of
Jess Degenaers and held on for an exhilarating 2-1 victory over host, top-seed and defending OVC champion Lindenwood University at Hunter Stadium on Wednesday afternoon. The victory puts the Huskies in the championship match for the third consecutive season and avenged a season-ending double-overtime, penalty shootout loss in the title match last year to Lindenwood.
The two foes went toe-to-toe from the onset. Lindenwood began what would be an onslaught of shots on the day when an attempt by Javaun Mills was saved by
Harvey Heeps in the sixth minute and the follow-up from Gabriel Tonks just eight seconds later flew awry.
HCU would get out on the front foot in the 14th minute when they earned a free kick just inside midfield.
Henrik Sakshaug laid a beautiful 45-yard delivery to a leaping
Marcos Moore, who headed the ball over the top of LU goalkeeper Quinn Closson to hand the Huskies the early one-nil advantage.
The Lions would continue the offensive pressure, leveling shot after shot on the HCU defense, which continued to stand tall through the first half. The Huskies, despite being outshot 13-4, held on to their 1-0 advantage heading into the intermission.
HCU continued to hold the line, and in the 63rd minute, the Huskies got a good look at doubling their edge, but a shot by
Ryan Okerayi went just wide of the post.
David Magalhaes would put together a couple of good looks in the next few moments, but it wasn't until the 78th minute that he put his stamp on the game, putting home a penalty kick that leveled the score to set up a wild and frantic last dozen minutes.
Lindenwood put two more towards the pipes, with Heeps saving a shot by Santiago Row in the 81st minute to preserve the tie. Likewise, a huge stop was made on the Huskies just into the 88th minute when Moore drove the goal line and laced a shot at the near post that Closson parried away.
That save led to a corner kick for the Huskies and on the entry into the box,
Nico Kross was grabbed, falling to the floor. A VAR check resulted in a penalty kick for HCU, which
Jess Degenaers calmly deposited into the net to give the Huskies the go-ahead.
The Huskies would then see out the remaining two minutes to capture the win and move into the tournament final.
Marcos Moore had his sixth goal of the season for HCU, while Degenaers picked up his third.
Harvey Heeps won his seventh of the season making three saves.
HCU's defense answered every call on Wednesday. Although being outshot by Lindenwood 23-11, the Lions got just five on target and the Huskies also held strong on nine LU corners in the match. Javaun Mills had six shots, three on goal, while Magalhaes recorded his fourth goal of the season on the penalty. The Lions, who won the OVC championship over HCU after a double-overtime shootout thriller last season, will not defend their title as they end their campaign 8-5-6 overall.
It was the third season in a row one of the two teams have had their season ended by the other in the tournament as two years ago it was HCU with a 2-0 semifinal win that knocked the Lions out.
HCU (7-7-6 overall) advances to the championship match for the third consecutive season. They will be the first lower seeded team to ever make a title appearance, as each of the previous three have been #1 vs. #2 matchups. While coming in as the fourth seed, the Huskies finished just three points off the top of the table, and their win on Wednesday also ensures that the Ohio Valley Conference championship match will have a Texas school for the fourth straight time.
The Huskies will play at 4 pm on Saturday against #6-seed Eastern Illinois, who defeated two-time champion SIUE 2-1 in the day's other semifinal. The wins by the Huskies and Panthers guarantee there will be a new champion in the fourth year of the conference.
Get all your Ohio Valley Conference tournament information at the links below.
OVC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL
OVC TOURNAMENT BRACKET
OVC TOURNAMENT TICKETS
FULL OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE POSTSEASON HONORS
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