INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - The 2018 regular season ended on a high note for Grace's men's soccer team on Wednesday.
Marcelo Talamas netted the only goal in double overtime, lifting the Lancers (12-3-3, 6-1-2 Crossroads League) to a 1-0 win at Marian.
Grace had already wrapped up the runner-up position in the league standings, meaning Grace will host the quarterfinals and potentially the semifinals of the upcoming CL Tournament. On Oct. 31, Grace will host seventh-seed Indiana Wesleyan at 6 p.m. The semifinals will also be at Grace, if the Lancers advance, with game time likely set for 5 p.m.
Defensively, Grace primarily muted the Knights (7-8-1, 3-6 CL) on Wednesday night. Although Marian had 15 shots, only two of those were on target.
Conversely, the Lancers racked up 28 shots and 12 shots on goal over the course of the match. Grace almost doubled Marian's attempts in the first and second halves.
The Lancers tried to jump on Marian early with five shots in the opening six minutes, primarily through the attack of Talamas and Ulisses Miranda. But Marian made three saves on those five shots to keep Grace off the scoreboard.
The teams went into halftime scoreless. The Lancers outshot the Knights 11-5 in the opening half.
Grace's offense ramped up in the second half with 15 more attempts. Grace almost scored in the beginning stages when Korry Hamlin's shot hit the crossbar.
In the 79th minute, Talamas had a shot that glanced off the goalpost for another wasted chance. The rebounded shot attempt by Ivan Santagiuliana was blocked.
Marian managed to keep Grace off the scoreboard in regulation, however, despite absorbing heavy pressure. The Knights did not attempt a shot for the final 28 minutes of regulation.
The goal finally came midway into the second overtime. Grace won possession of the ball at midfield and quickly advanced down the left sideline.
Colin Cape passed ahead to Talamas in the center of the field, and he found Damon Binkley in space on the right edge of the penalty box. Binkley's quick attempt was blocked, but Talamas scored on the rebounded effort as he beat the charging goalkeeper.
Talamas led all players with eight shots and five shots on goal, and Hamlin and Miranda each shot four times. Breno Oliveira tried three shot attempts with two on goal.
Kurt Hamlin registered the shutout, making two saves in 104 minutes of goalkeeping for Grace.Â
Â