ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Eckerd goalkeeper
Domenic Spedaliere made a career-high 10 saves, including a stop on a second half penalty kick, but it was Romain Onteniente who earned the designation of hero as the senior striker snuck a shot through the arms and legs of Spedaliere in the 101st minute to give the Nova Southeastern Sharks (7-6, 2-3 SSC) a 1-0 double overtime victory over the Eckerd Tritons (5-6, 3-2 SSC) on Saturday night.
Despite winning the majority of the possession in the first half and most of the second half, the Tritons never recorded a shot on frame but they were not without opportunties to score.
The Tritons out-played the Sharks until the 78th minute when it appeared the Sharks would take the lead on a penalty kick taken by Craig Heenighan. Spedaliere had other ideas, however, as he dove to his left to make the save before making another stop on Heenighan's rebound attempt.
Despite Spedaliere's tantalizing save, the penalty kick, coupled with Eckerd's loss of freshman defender
Ryan Partch, seemed to give the Sharks all the momentum as the teams hurtled towards extra time. After out-shooting NSU 4-2 in the first half, Eckerd was out-shot 11-6 in the second half.
In extra time, the Tritons once again had opportunities but never recorded a shot. In the second overtime session, Onteniente took a pass to the left side of the 18-yard box from Craig Heenighan, drew the ball to his left foot and trickled it through the Eckerd goalkeeper to stun and silence a lively Eckerd crowd and record the 1-0 result.
For the game, NSU out-shot Eckerd 17-10 while the Tritons held a 7-2 corner kick advantage. Eckerd was also whistled for 18 fouls to seven for the Sharks.
Eckerd will return to the pitch on Tuesday, October 13 as it hosts the Tampa Spartans at 7pm at the Turley Athletic Complex.
