PAINESVILLE, Ohio – Kentucky Wesleyan goalkeeper
Matteo Graniero is the hero this evening after his three straight saves in a penalty shootout denied No.1-seed and hosts Lake Erie Storm (11-4-4, 10-2-2 G-MAC) to send Kentucky Wesleyan men's soccer (9-4-5, 7-3-4 Great Midwest Athletic Conference) to the G-MAC Championship for the third year in a row. The Panthers earned a 1-1 draw with the Storm after two periods of extra time and earned the title opportunity after spot kicks.
The Panthers and Storm played a back-and-forth first half, with the hosts putting together six shots, drawing a save from Graniero. Kentucky Wesleyan were able to weather to the halftime break with the score tied at 0-0. The breakthrough came in the 56th minute when now joint assist leader in the country
Jersey Lopez combined with
Mattie McNally for the left-foot finish and the 1-0 advantage.
The lead didn't last for long, unfortunately, as the Storm powered back with an equalizer in the 64th minute after finishing off a cross in the box. Both teams failed to find a winner in normal time despite a flurry of shots from Lake Erie. The Storm kept the pressure up in the overtime periods, outshooting the Panthers at a combined 4-1 but could not find a winner, sending the match to a penalty shootout.
In the shootout, McNally, Davey and Bell converted from the spot while Graniero stopped all three Lake Erie attempts, keeping them off the board and earning a shutout victory for the visitors.
Up Next
Men's Soccer will play for a G-MAC Championship on Saturday, November 7 at 3 p.m. CT.
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