Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Justin McCall scored the game-winning goal, tipping in a shot in the 108th minute as Widener defeated Lebanon Valley 4-3 in double overtime in the Commonwealth Conference opener for both teams Tuesday afternoon at Herbert Field.

With the game just under three minutes away from ending in a tie, Doug Gabel took a shot from the left wing, had it blocked by junior goalie John Mentzer, then attempted a low-rolling shot on the rebound. McCall redirected the ball into the right side of the net for his second goal of the game.

Widener (2-3-1, 1-0 CC) trailed 2-1 midway through the second half before scoring twice over a 12-minute span to assume its first lead of the game. William James scored in the 66th minute, booting in a cross from the left on a breakaway. Gabel then gave the Pioneers the lead in the 78th minute, sneaking in a dribbler just inside the far post from the left flank.

Lebanon Valley (3-4, 0-1 CC) forced overtime when junior Zack Barkus scored his second goal of the season. Waiting inside the box, Barkus took a cross from freshman Justin Hutchinson off his chest, then pushed a shot around the goalie to make it 3-3 in the 82nd minute.

In the first overtime, the Dutchmen had a pair of shots on goal. Senior Adam Burns had his header hit off the left post 90 seconds into the bonus session, and classmate Mike Martin took a shot from the left wing 10 seconds before the horn.

In between those shots was a horrific head-to-head collision near midfield between Barkus and Widener’s Chad Dye that delayed the match for nearly 10 minutes. Both players left the game, and neither returned.

Lebanon Valley took an early lead when junior Eric Nkurunziza scored off a Hutchinson’s first assist of the game in the third minute. Widener tied it up in the 13th minute on a Max Bernhard header on a breakaway, but the Dutchmen went back in front six minutes later when Burns ripped in a shot from the left post to make it 2-1.

Mentzer finished with five saves for LVC while Marty Squicciarini stopped six shots for the Pioneers.

Lebanon Valley picks up its schedule on Saturday, when it visits Eastern University at 2:30 p.m. in a non-conference match.

Widener          1   2   0   1  -   4
Lebanon Valley   2   1   0   0  -   3

LV – Erik Nkurunziza (Justin Hutchinson), 2:32
W – Max Bernhard (William James), 12:19
LV – Adam Burns (Zack Barkus), 18:40
W – William James (Doug Gabel), 65:01
W – Doug Gabel (Travis Jones), 77:01
LV – Zack Barkus (Justin Hutchinson), 81:31
W – Justin McCall(Doug Gabel), 107:15

Shots: Widener 20. Lebanon Valley 22.
Saves: Widener (Marty Squicciarini) 6. Lebanon Valley (John Mentzer) 5.
Corner Kicks: Widener 3. Lebanon Valley 3.
Team records: Widener 2-3-1 (1-0 CC). Lebanon Valley 3-4 (0-1 CC)

[Photo - Junior Eric Nkurunziza, who scored his first goal of the year in Lebanon Valley's 4-3 double-overtime loss to Widener on Tuesday]

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