INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. - For the first time in school history the Green Bay (14-2-3) men's soccer team won the Horizon League Championship by upsetting top-seeded Butler (14-2-2) 3-2 in a penalty kick situation. It comes as no surprise that the championship game went into a penalty kick situation for the first time in tournament history.
"Our guys really fought hard and never gave up on each other and they deserve this," said head coach Tom Poitras. "Butler is a very good team and will represent the Horizon League well in the NCAA tournament. That was a big time college soccer game today," added Poitras.
This was the third championship game in three years for Green Bay who earned an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament for the first time since 1983, "this win today isn't just for our guys but it's for all the guys that came before this team and helped build this program," said Poitras.
It was an intense, scoreless first half as there were a total of 3 shots taken with the lone corner kick coming from Green Bay.
Under 17 minutes into the second half Butler got a close look at the goal but Ryan Wehking (St. Louis) came up with the big save to deny the Bulldogs.
At the 24:25 mark JC Banks (Milwaukee, Wis.) went 1-on-1 taking a great shot around the defender only to have it saved by Butler goalie Fabian Knopfler. Later on with just over six minutes to play Banks took another great shot from eight yards out and was just off the mark to the right.
Moments later off a Butler corner kick Matt Hedges' shot hit high off the cross bar to send the crowd into a roar.
At the end of regulation, Butler outshot Green Bay 13-8 and 5-1 on corner kicks to send the championship into overtime for the first time since 1995.
With just under a minute to play in the first overtime period Banks found David Znaty (Hadera, Israel) in the box for his second shot in overtime only to be denied and leave the game scoreless.
For the first time in tournament history the championship game went to a second overtime period where Znaty took a free kick shot from 24 yards only to be wide left.
With 2:20 to play in the second overtime, Butler's Boris Gatzky had a good look at the net but Green Bay's Andrew Stone (Green Bay, Wis.) had a great block. Butler outshot Green Bay 3-1 in the second overtime.
With clouds setting in and every one on their feet, freshman Ryan Wehking stepped into the goal and made a save on Butler's first attempt. In Green Bay's first attempt David Prochazka (Gothenburg, Sweden) laid the ball in the lower right corner of the net. Butler scored on their second attempt to tie it 1-1 before Green Bay's David Znaty went top shelf to take the 2-1 lead. On the third attempt Butler tied it 2-2 before Francois Basty gave the Phoenix the 3-2 edge. Banks missed Green Bay's fourth attempt. In Butler's fifth and final penalty kick attempt, Wehking made a diving save to punch Green Bay's ticket to the NCAA tournament.
"Ryan performed as if he were a senior (he's only a freshman) like he has all season, he stepped up in a big situation when we needed it most," said Poitras. "I actually wasn't all that nervous, it was more exciting than anything; these are moments I've dreamed of since I was a kid," said Wehking.
Wehking was named tournament MVP while teammates Scott Raymonds (Brookfield, Wis.) David Prochazka and JC Banks were named to the All-Tournament team.
Green Bay will learn who and where they will be playing in the first round of the NCAA tournament during the selection show which will be held Monday night at 4:30 p.m. on ESPNews. The first round of the tournament kicks off Thursday, Nov. 19 followed by the second round on Sunday, Nov. 22.
Interview with Head Coach Tom Poitras
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