Spring Break
Kangaroos lose in double overtime 1-0
David Cordill
Issue date: 10/1/07 Section: Sports
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The Kangaroos, 4-3-1, were felled in the second overtime period after the Purple Aces' Dan Gibson guided a 20-yard blast inside the near post for a sudden 1-0 victory at Bourke Field on the Rockhurst University campus.
The curving path of Gibson's shot was virtually unobstructed as several UMKC players seemed to let up on the play after an unidentified inadvertent whistle sounded near the vicinity of the pitch.
Given its unexpected trajectory, the ball was likely to have found the back of the net regardless of any on- or off-field discrepancies.
After the match, UMKC Head Coach Rick Benben, disappointed by the defeat, would not comment on the incident, but instead gave credit to both squads.
"You got to make plays," Benben said. "They made a play to win at the end. We certainly had plenty of opportunities to win the game throughout but couldn't capitalize and they did ... Overall, I think our play was pretty good. I think we're growing as a team."
Several near misses during regulation made the loss harder for the Roos to swallow.
With less than two minutes remaining in the first half, UMKC freshman defender Matt Kopsky saw daylight between Purple Aces goalkeeper Alec Dufty and the near post, but headed his effort wide of the mark.
UMKC junior forward Brian Harris had a tantalizing chance early in the second half, unleashing a rocket after an extended scamper through the middle portion of the field. Unfortunately for Harris and the Kangaroos, the ball sailed high and grazed off the top post in what was, perhaps, their best chance on the afternoon.
"I saw that the goalie was out a little bit, so I thought I'd hit a volley," Harris said. "I thought it was in. It just caught the underside of the bar and bounced out."
Clearly the aggressors during the first 45 minutes of the match, the Kangaroos kept pressure on Evansville; most of the action took place on the Purple Aces' end of the pitch as UMKC repeatedly won balls and controlled possession. Junior midfielder Garret Guthrie missed high on a crossing shot in the 31st minute for the Roos and sophomore forward Brian Perez sent a bouncing shot off the near post in the 39th minute.
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