JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Bellarmine University men's soccer team's season had been extended due to a goal in the 89th minute.
In a cruel and ironic twist, it was a conceded goal in the 89th minute that largely helped lead to the end of the Knights' season.
On Saturday night at North Florida's Hodges Stadium, third-seeded FGCU leveled the contest at 1 with less than two minutes remaining before winning a penalty-kick shootout 5-4 over sixth-seeded Bellarmine in the ASUN Championship quarterfinals.
The match is officially recorded as a 1-1 draw.
In the regular-season finale, Bellarmine (5-6-5) scored in the 89th minute of a 1-1 deadlock with Stetson that sent the Knights to the ASUN Championship with the improbable point earned.
However, with Bellarmine on the cusp of victory in the postseason backed by senior defender
Austin Yowell's successful PK in the 55th minute, the Knights experienced the painful flipside, as FGCU's Addrian Knights-Browne found the net from near the top of the box on a secondary chance following a corner kick in the 89th minute.
Although both teams threatened to produce the golden goal, neither located the net in the two overtime sessions, which sent the match to a PK shootout. Freshman forward
Colin Elder, sophomore midfielder
Cade Morgan, freshman defender
Nore Sumner and sophomore midfielder
Adric Rosato sank their attempts for Bellarmine, but FGCU goalkeeper Cooper Blay did make a stop in the second round.
That's all FGCU (4-9-3) needed. The Eagles were able to make all five of their PK chances, with Cao Chaves delivering the clincher.
Bellarmine has earned a berth in the ASUN Championship in all five years in the league.
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