Purdue Fort Wayne
UMKC
Freshman Saves Senior Day in Double OT
11/7/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Soccer
Nov. 7, 2009
Fort Wayne, IN - On Senior Day 2009, it was a freshman the played hero. In the game's 105th minute midfielder Brent Helton fired a shot from 25 yards out that closed the game and the season for the Mastodons as they downed the UMKC Kangaroos, 3-2.
The 'Roos were the first to strike. David Sarabia got a head on a cross from teammate Sean Butler in the 30th minute to give his squad the early advantage.
Trailing 1-0, senior Ben Haifley converted on a PK four minutes later to even the scoreboard at 1-1. The goal is Haifley's first of the season and second of his IPFW career.
Another four minutes later, UMKC's Bryan Perez scored the third goal of the period as he broke out and beat the IPFW keeper one-on-one to give the 'Roos a 2-1 advantage to close out the first half.
Just 45 seconds into the second half, Max Touloute evened the score at 2-2 after he took a lead pass from Mitch Falkenstern and converted on the one-on-one opportunity. Touloute's six goals is the tops on the team and surpasses his team-best season total from the 2008 campaign.
But after this flurry of scoring, with four goals in 15 minutes of action, both offenses skidded to a stand-still. Very few scoring opportunities came until the second overtime.
Four and a half minutes into the second period of bonus soccer, Helton gathered an attempted clear outside the box and fired a line-drive laser past the UMKC keeper for the golden goal, giving the 'Dons a 3-2 victory to close out the 2009 season.
Touloute took seven shots to lead the IPFW offense while keeper Donovan Dowling posted two saves in the win.
Today was the final game in the Blue and White for graduating seniors Mitchell Haifley, Ben Haifley, Ben Gamble, Josh Howell and Josh Sommer.
The win gives the 'Dons a 6-11-2 final record, the best finish thus far under head coach Mike Harper's guidance. Ten full-time starters return for what could make for a strong 2010 campaign in the heated Summit League.
~Dons~
