EISENMANN NETS GAME WINNER IN EXTRA TIME TO SEND NO. 18 ONU TO THE CCAC CHAMPIONSHIP
| Final | 1 | 2 | OT | OT2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Holy Cross (10-5-4) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
|
Olivet Nazarene (15-1-3) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
BOURBONNAIS, Ill. – The No. 18 Olivet Nazarene University men's soccer program advanced to the CCAC Tournament Championship Final for the second consecutive year after outlasting the Saints of Holy Cross, 1-0, after 90 minutes and two periods of extra time. Justin Eisenmann scored the game's lone goal in the 94th minute and Mike Giannotta picked up his eighth shutout of the campaign after a four-save performance in the net.
The junior striker from Germany netted the game-winning goal after subbing on to start the second half. Six minutes into the first period of extra time, Max Jasper controlled a long pass at the top of the box to lay off Eisenmann. With a quick change of pace, the 5-10 forward created enough space to curl a shot from 22 yards out off the far post and into the back of the net. The goal bumped his season total to a conference-leading 12 while also leading the CCAC in total points with 36.
The breakthrough. WOW. pic.twitter.com/1Ql5b2woqx
— #18 ONU Men's Soccer (@ONU_MSoccer) November 9, 2022
Giannotta preserved the shutout with four big saves to keep the Saints off the scoreboard. In the 22nd minute, the Tiger netminder closed down HCC'S Kevin Vidana who was unmarked at the far post requiring the German native to stand tall and deny the goal-scoring opportunity. The 6-2 goalkeeper made one last big save in the 107th minute off the foot of Elmin Ejup to secure the win.
Olivet's midfield, led by Jasper, controlled the game and dominated possession throughout. Jasper led all players in shots with six and provided the assist in the game-winning goal. As a team, ONU outshot HCC 21-12 with six shots making it on-frame.
The Tigers have now won three games in a row and have stretched their unbeaten streak at home to 23 matches dating back to Aug. 21, 2021.
WHAT'S NEXT
The No. 18 Olivet Nazarene will match up with the second-seeded Cardinal Stritch in the CCAC Championship Final. The date is set for Nov. 11 with the kickoff time to be determined. Please visit onutigers.com for all the links to follow along.
--ONU—
*Contact: Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, pkaindl@olivet.edu