University of Delaware Athletics
Cardiac Kids Strike Again As UD Downs George Mason 2-1 in Overtime (Oct. 19, 2011)
10/19/2011 3:28:00 PM | Men's Soccer
Boxscore
NEWARK, Del. -- Senior Kyle Ellis seems to have a knack for scoring last-minute goals for the University of Delaware men's soccer team.
The local product from Bear, Del. put away a game-winning goal for a second straight game, both coming in overtime as the Hens outlasted George Mason University 2-1 at a rain-soaked Delaware Mini-Stadium.
Ellis has three game-winners this season, all of which have come at Delaware Mini-Stadium. Wednesday's goal came in the 98th minute, just three minutes of his double overtime goal on Sunday to down Hofstra University 3-2. His first game-winner came on Sept. 18 against Columbia in a 1-0 victory.
"Fabulous spirit on show again tonight in difficult conditions. We have lost only one game in regulation all season, which is a credit to the resiliency of the group," said sixth-year head man Ian Hennessy. "We played a very good Mason team this evening that probably deserved a little more in the first half, and we had to wait until the second half to get things flowing a little more. Thrilled with another win for the lads."
The Ellis tally, the third latest goal scored since Hennessy took over the program in 2006, improved Delaware to 9-3-1 overall and 4-3-0 in the Colonial Athletic Association. The nine wins are the most since Hennessy took the helm, and gaurantee Delaware a winning season for the first time since 1996.
Sophomore sensation Roberto Giménez put Delaware up 1-0 in the 66th minute, taking advantage of a set piece 30 yards from the Mason goal. The native Spaniard caught Patriot goalkeeper Sean Cote, who made three saves in the game, offguard and sent in a dart to the left corner of the goal for his ninth tally of the year.
Fellow forward and senior Evans Frimpong sent in the cross to Ellis, who handled a deflection and found the goal for the winner. Frimpong and Giménez, Delaware's leading point getters, have 22 apiece, each tallying nine goals and four assists. They are the first pair to surpass the 22-point mark since 1977 when John McCloskey had 27 points (10g, 7a) and Dave Ferrell finished with 24 points (9g, 6a).
Things were tight throughout the match, and the two teams played a controlled game with the sloppy, wet conditions on the field. Nine minutes after the Giménez marker, Mason (5-6-3, 2-4-1 CAA) knotted things at 1-1 as Leo Stolz scored his first goal of the season, squeezing one past Delaware goalkeeper Kris Devaux.
Devaux, who improved his goalkeeping to 7-1-0 this season, made six saves in the victory. The two squads were relatively even in shots, with Mason attempting 15 and Delaware trying 10 times. Delaware put five shots on target, scoring twice while Mason managed seven, one of which scored.
Behind Devaux's saves and a potent offense, Delaware tallied its second victory all-time against George Mason, both have which have come under Hennessy.
The Hens, who are 6-1-0 at Delaware Mini-Stadium this season, will look to keep the push going on Saturday night when they host 2010 CAA Champion, William & Mary. The Hens will be looking to exact revenage on the Tribe, who received votes in this week's NSCAA/adidas National Polls and defeated Delaware 1-0 in double overtime of the CAA Semifinals a year ago.
Game time is slated for 7 p.m. for what is anticipated to be a fierce battle between the No. 2 scoring offense in the league, Delaware, which averages 2.15 goals per game, and a stout defense in William & Mary, which is ranked third in scoring defense, allowing less than a goal per game.
