THE RUNDOWN

Following their thrilling quarterfinal win over Texas A&M International, DBU Men's Soccer traveled to Wichita Falls TX to take on West Texas in the LSC Conference Tournament Semi-Finals. A win would give DBU the chance to play for their first-ever LSC Conference Tournament Championship on Sunday afternoon.

The scoring would get started early as West Texas' Gabriel Nevarez tapped one home 15:04 into the game to put the Buffalos ahead 1-0. 20 seconds later, DBU's all-time goal-scoring leader Peyton Voelker would finish a long thru ball to tie the game at one.

After coming out with renewed energy DBU nearly broke the 1-1 tie less than a minute into the second half after a volley from Ethan Unger went just over the crossbar. The Patriots would have another chance to break the tie 64:48 into the game when Peyton Volker got a touch inside the box and sent a ball just high as the game remained tied. Both teams would have a few good chances in the second half but after 90 minutes the game was still tied at one and for the second straight game DBU would head to extra time. Senior goalkeeper Alexander Knepper was sensational in regulation making 9 saves on 10 shots.

The first of the two ten-minute overtime periods came and went without either team coming up with any significant scoring chances. In the 103rd minute of the game, Oscar Ronquillo used some impressive dribbling skills to get himself into a good shooting position where he would just miss the top right corner.

After 110 minutes we were still tied and the Patriots would be headed to a penalty shootout for a second straight game. After both teams' first shooters missed DBU's Gavyn Rosales gave the Patriots a 1-0 lead. However, West Texas would equalize tying the shootout 1-1. Much like the majority of the match, penalty kicks would remain even as the shootout score was 4-4 heading to each team's fifth shooter. Patriots Leo Larson would strike one into the bottom corner to put DBU a save away from a win. With the game on the line, Patriots goal keeper Alexander Knepper made a diving save to win the game for DBU.

DBU defeated West Texas 5-4 on penalty kicks to advance to the Lone Star Conference Tournament final. The Patriots will take on the winner of Oklahoma Christian and Midwestern State on Sunday Afternoon at 1:00 PM.

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

- DBU advances to play for their first-ever Lone Star Conference Championship on Sunday Afternoon. 

- This is the Patriots' second consecutive game to make it all the way to penalty kicks. In their quarterfinal game against Texas A&M International, DBU also won in PK's with Giovanni Enriquez making the final goal.  

- The Patriots earned their first-ever win against West Texas A&M after being 0-16 against the Buffalos since 1992. 

- Peyton Voelker scored his team-leading 11th goal of the season in the 15th minute. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

10 - DBU Goalkeeper Alexander Knepper made 10 saves in the game

5 - The Patriots Scored 5 goals in the penalty shootout

31 - There were 31 total shots in the game by both teams

HEAD COACH JESS JOBE ON THE WIN
"You can't say enough about the effort tonight from the guys and just their willingness to continue to push on and continue to have the energy that we needed time and time again. The response to concede a goal has been shown time and time again and to not be phased and continue to go again and to respond so quickly was really important to us and gave us the belief. We've continued to prove that even if something doesn't fall in our favor, we have the ability to press on and to believe in what we are doing and work back in to a game. We were faced with that again and took no time at all to get right back. I felt like that was a significant moment in the game because not only did it keep our belief high and continue to build our momentum into the game, it took a lot of wind out of West Texas's sails at that moment. We are really really happy, credit to West Texas A&M for the game they played. Obviously a really quality opponent and pushed us to the brink. We couldn't say enough about the guys and the way that they believed in each other and the way they fought for each other. We gave ourselves another opportunity to play. Knepper coming up big, he had an incredible game. It's fair to say that he was the player of the game for us. In some really really tough moments, he really dug us out of some chances that looked like that they were going to be really good ones in West Texas's favor. We got a big performance from him and we are extremely proud of him for that and just the way the guys bought into the game. We saw late in the game and in overtime the momentum being in our favor. We felt like we could win in overtime and that belief carried us into penalties once again and those guys stepped up to take their moment. Couldn't be happier, we're excited. Got to recover hard now and look to the next one."

UP NEXT
The Patriots will take on the winner of Oklahoma Christian and Midwestern State on Sunday Afternoon at 1:00 PM in the Lone Star Conference Championship Game