Late Goal Ends Season for No. 15 Men’s Soccer

Lawrenceville, Ga. – The No. 15-ranked Columbia College men’s soccer team had its season come to an end in heart-breaking fashion as No. 5 Georgia Gwinnett College scored with two seconds left in double overtime in a 2-1 loss Saturday in NAIA Second Round play.
 
Georgia Gwinnett improves to 14-2-2, while Columbia had its 11-game win streak snapped and fell to 15-4-3. Georgia Gwinnett advances to the NAIA National Championship final site which set for Nov. 29-Dec. 5 in Decatur, Ala.
 
Georgia Gwinnett scored on its first shot of the game in the 34th minute after a long throw-in resulted in a scramble in the box that Karim Tmimi finished with a shot in the back of the net. The goal for Tmimi was his 18th of the season.
 
The Cougars nearly broke through just before half but Joey Spotanski’s shot was stopped on a diving save by Andreas von Muecke. Columbia outshot Georgia Gwinnett 5-1 and had a 6-2 advantage in corner kicks.
 
After a foul which resulted in a free kick from 35 yards out, Erik Rajoy capitalized with a long shot that snuck through the defense and into the back of the net. The goal was Rajoy’s team-leading 10th of the season and 15th of his career.
 
James McFarlane had a golden opportunity in the 85th minute after his volley shot sent over the goal off of a long cross into the box. In the 90th minute, Steven Marion’s shot from just outside the 18 was stopped on a diving save by von Muecke.
 
Ethan Blake nearly found the net in the 108th minute after his shot sailed over the crossbar.
 
Columbia outshot Georgia Gwinnett 19-9 and had a 16-5 advantage in corner kicks. Gibbs played all 110 minutes in goal and made two saves.
 
NOTES: Columbia and Georgia Gwinnett met for the first time in school history … This was the first overtime game this season for both teams … The Cougars have won 15 or more games in four-straight seasons under head coach John Klein … Columbia is 16-11-2 in 12 all-time NAIA National Tournament appearances.