ST. CHARLES, Missouri --- Houston Christian University outlasted Western Illinois University on Sunday afternoon in a frenetic and physical Ohio Valley Conference Tournament first round, advancing past the Leathernecks on penalty kicks 5-4 at Lindenwood University's Hunter Stadium. The two teams ended regulation and a pair of ten-minute overtimes deadlocked at one-apiece, setting up the final shootout, which the Huskies took after a final save from
Harvey Heeps and a finish pen from
Henrik Sakshaug.
The Huskies got three solid looks during a four-minute span early in the first half but got nothing out of them.
Ricardo Garcia then had a strong look in the 30th minute that was saved by WIU's Drew Heller, and the two teams would head to the lockeroom scoreless.
Not much changed for the first 15 minutes of the second session, as each team continued to push the tempo while also playing strong and physical defense. In the 62nd minute WIU poked through the ice, as Diego Porras put a missile across
Harvey Heeps face off an assist by Ty Duax, giving the fifth-seeded Leathernecks the breakthrough.
That lead was short-lived, as the Huskies came right back. Just less than two minutes later,
Ryan Okerayi took a pass from
Cezar Onut and weaved his way through a horde of defenders before clipping a shot back across the grain and underneath Heller to level the score with 63:11 on the clock.
The score would remain as such the rest of the way, despite several solid attempts by each to end the night. HCU's best chance came when
Clarenns Sainrimat was clipped in the box, but
Marcos Moore's ensuing penalty was parried away by Heller to keep things knotted up. HCU had two other chances nearing the final 10 minutes, but neither found the mark, sending the game to extra time.
Western's Xavier Gagnon had a go just under a minute into the first extra session, but his shot went over the top and out of play. Sainrimat and Garcia each then had a go of their own, but their shots likewise went over the top of the crossbar.
In the second extra frame, Heeps made two solid saves off shots from Porras and Jokubas Samsonas, and a late strike by
Aidan Lopez was off the mark, pushing the two teams into penalties.
WIU struck first, taking a 2-1 advantage after the first two rounds after Heller made a save on the second HCU attempt. With the count 3-2 in favor of WIU,
Harvey Heeps made his first save of the duel, and
Nico Kross evened things with the very next shot from the spot.
After makes on the next go-around by each club, it was Heeps again, this time with a sparkling save on a dive to his right, knocking the shot away to put HCU in the driver's seat for the first time.
Henrik Sakshaug then stepped up and smashed a shot straight down the pipe for the winner, sending the Huskies into a frenzy.
HCU (6-7-6 overall) outshot Western Illinois 18-12 with the Leathernecks going up 6-5 on shots on goal. HCU had six corner to WIU's three, and the physical contest saw 43 total fouls as neither team would give an inch.
Okerayi had five total shots and scored his seventh goal of the season, the 28th tally of his career. Onut had his first assist of the season on the goal.
Jess Degenaers,
Noah Fernandes,
Nico Kross and Onut all put home penalty shots before the Sakshaug capper.
Harvey Heeps made five saves on the evening, then the all-important pair in the shootout.
Diego Porras scored his first goal of the season for the Leathernecks, who finish their season at 6-9-4 overall. Drew Heller made three stops in the pipes.
HCU (6-7-6 overall) advances to the semifinals of the OVC Tournament, where it will now take on top-seed, host and defending champion Lindenwood University. Kick-off is scheduled for 4 pm on Wednesday from Hunter Stadium.
Get all your Ohio Valley Conference tournament information at the links below.
FULL OHIO VALLEY CONFERENCE POSTSEASON HONORS
OVC TOURNAMENT CENTRAL | OVC TOURNAMENT BRACKET | OVC TOURNAMENT TICKETS
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