Despite averaging 2.75 goals per game over their season-ending four-game winning streak, the EMU soccer men couldn’t find the net in a 1-0 loss at Roanoke College Wednesday night in the quarterfinals of the ODAC Tournament.
The Royals came up short in their upset bid in the ODAC’s No. 3/No. 6 game and end the season with a record of 9-8-4, including 4-3-2 in conference play. It’s the first time EMU has finished above .500 since going 10-8-2 overall and 7-2-1 in the ODAC in 2011.
Even with the low final score, each team had good chances at more tallies in the tourney game. Juan Luna (Mount Jackson, Va./Stonewall Jackson) had a tough shot saved in the 26th minute, and Parker Leap (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) had a good look at the rebound, but put his attempt off the post.
Roanoke (9-4-5 / 5-0-4 ODAC) returned the favor by going off the post in the 47th before getting a score from Sam Rauf shortly after a corner in the 48th.
The Royals struggled to put together more than a few touches as the Maroons clogged things up after gaining the lead. The men’s best chance to equalize came with just five minutes left, when Daniel Obour (Alexandria, Va./Mount Vernon) took a centering pass on a breakaway. But his one-timer in front of the goal sailed high. Luna had the only other attempt, firing a last ditch shot which went right.
Luna had four of EMU’s eight shots, including the only two on goal.
Junior keeper Matthew Overacker (Mount Crawford, Va./Turner Ashby) made seven saves.
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