Dayton, Ohio - After the match remained scoreless through 110 minutes of play, Friday's opening round tournament game between #2 seed Mason and #7 seed St. Joseph's was decided in a shootout, where the Patriots came away with the 4-2 advantage.
The first round Atlantic 10 Tournament victory advances Mason to the semifinal round, where they will face the winner of the match between #3 VCU and #6 Duquesne on Friday, November 15 at 5 p.m.
After late scoring opportunities in double overtime and spectacular goaltending from each side throughout the game, victory was to be determined by penalty kicks. All four shooters for Mason scored in the shootout. Senior Julio Arjona was first to convert for Mason, putting the ball in bottom right corner for a 1-0 advantage. St. Joseph's would answer, which would allow for freshman Zach Herstek to put Mason up 2-1 with a shot to the low left side of the net.
Heading into the third round of shooters tied 2-2, senior Wes Sever broke the tie with a kick to the right corner for a 3-2 lead. Freshman goalkeeper and Atlantic 10 Rookie of the Year Steffen Kraus was able to make a diving save to keep Mason ahead and stopped St. Joseph's fourth attempt for the win after junior Timi Mulgrew converted on his chance to put Mason up 4-2.
The match nearly ended in the second overtime period when a Mulgrew shot from inside the box with less than two minutes remaining was saved on the goal line by a St. Joseph's player to continue the action. A shot by Hawks forward Mike Glazer was saved on the other end by Kraus with less than one minute remaining to force the shootout. Shots were even on the day with 15 apiece from each side, including a mirrored 5 shots on goal.
The first half saw little action on net with great defensive play from both teams. The Hawks had the first scoring chance of the afternoon with a header from defensemen Bliss Harris, however Kraus was able to make his first of two diving save attempts to turn him away in the 10th minute. Kraus' second diving save of the half came after a St. Joseph's free kick from 25 yards out in the 33rd minute. Glazer was able to put a head on the ball and direct it to the left side of the net where Kraus dove and punched it away to keep the game scoreless at the half.
Second half action saw more of the same, with a few more scoring chances for Mason. Arjona had a couple of long chances before the game got tense in the final ten minutes. With less than six minutes remaining Herstek, who led the team with four shots in the game, took a blast from the left corner of the box that required a diving attempt by Hawks goalkeeper Andrew D'Ottavi. After Herstek's shot forced a corner kick, Mulgrew's kick set up Hugh Roberts for a header with less than five minutes remaining that went just wide of the net. Mason held the corner kick advantage of the day, totaling 11 to St. Joseph's three.
Quarterfinal action continues all Thursday before semifinals begin on Friday with Mason's match at 5 p.m. at Baujan Field in Dayton, Ohio. The Atlantic 10 Championship match is scheduled for Sunday, November 17 at 1 p.m.
