McDonell/Regis soccer tops Omro in double OT

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By DAVID BOSSICK
david.bossick@lee.net
Friday, October 31, 2008 5:37 PM CDT

Marc Santolin got his shot, and it was deflected.

Grant Mickesh took a stab at it, but it bounced away.

It bounced to the awaiting foot of Cory Arneson, who dribbled toward the goal and let a shot loose to lift McDonell/Regis to a 3-2 double-overtime victory against Omro in a WIAA Division 3 sectional boys soccer semifinal on Kell Field at Casper Park.

It was Arneson’s third goal of the game, and it allowed the Macks to spring to their feet and celebrate while the Foxes fell to the ground, deflated and defeated.

“I’m usually pretty good with words, but right now, I’m at a loss for them,” Macks coach Tim Jenneman said.

“It’s not what we expected. We expected to probably win it a little easier than with double overtime,” Arneson said. “But, a win’s a win. Hopefully, we can pick it up with this weekend’s game.”

The Foxes, though, didn’t have to climb out of a hole. The Macks did.

Omro took control of the game in the first half and scored two goals, the first just 10 minutes into the game. The second came on a corner kick.

“I’ve never been so caught up in a game before. We’ve never been in this position before. We’ve always had leads. We’ve always scored first,” said Jenneman, who credited his seniors with the comeback.

Arneson cut the lead in half with a goal with 28:18 showing on the clock as he caught a pass, split two Maroon-clad defenders and raced toward the goal. His shot hit the back of the net.

McDonell/Regis went into the half trailing, but with the prospect of having the wind to their backs in the second half.

“The first half was kind of hard. They were popping the ball over and I thought it was going farther than it was and it would sail back on me,” Arneson said.

 “In the second half, it was a lot better because I knew the ball was going a lot farther than it was.”

Not only was it the wind that helped out the Macks in the second half, but Jenneman reminded his team at the break of something else.

“I said, ‘You know what, it’s about time we’ve been put in this position. Let’s see what your character is made out of,’” he said.

“I just said, ‘It’s time to shine. Let’s see who’s going to win.’”

Jenneman had confidence his team would either win the game in regulation or in overtime.

The Macks had chances by the bunches in the second half, but weren’t able to put the ball in until Arneson scored with 68:21 showing on the clock.

McDonell/Regis lost the coin flip to start the first overtime, allowing Omro to get the wind at its back. Chris Eckes was called upon to make two big saves. Eckes forced one shot to deflect off of the crossbar.

“He made some beautiful saves. The defense felt kind of bad. . . They made up for it and the rest is history,” Jenneman said.

He also shut down Omro’s Ryan Payne as the two dueled one-on-one in front of the McDonell net. Eckes made the save and allowed the Macks to force the second overtime.

McDonell had a couple chances in the second overtime, including getting a penalty kick five yards just outside of the goalie box. The Macks were not able to convert the opportunity.

The finisher came when Santolin took the ball inside the box and fired it for the finish.

Arneson got the goal with 92:18 showing on the clock to wrap up the thrilling victory.

McDonell/Regis will play at 11 a.m. Saturday in Stevens Point at Portage County Youth Soccer Fields Land O’Lakes Conserve. Conserve defeated Washburn via a 4-1 shootout after a scoreless tie in regulation and overtime.