Green Knights Survive Shootout With Ohio Northern In NCAA Opener

From Asst. AD/Athletics Communications, November 15, 2019 | Men's Soccer
by Dan Lukes, dan.lukes@snc.edu, (920) 403-4077

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. - St. Norbert College advanced to the second round of the NCAA Division III Men's Soccer Tournament by claiming a shootout following a 0-0 double-overtime tie against Ohio Northern University at Calvin University's Zuidema Field.

The Green Knights (16-4-3) advanced when Jonnie Winkler beat Ohio Northern goalkeeper John Lombardo in the bottom of the fifth round for a 3-2 shootout victory. St. Norbert will now face host and No. 2-ranked Calvin (20-1-1) at 3 p.m. EST Saturday in the second-round match.

It marks the third time St. Norbert has advanced beyond the first round of the NCAA Tournament, joining the 2004 Sweet 16 team and the 2006 team that reached the second round.

Winkler's penalty kick climaxed a tense match and shootout. Ohio Northern's Luke Fickenworth and St. Norbert's Domenic DeMaria both scored in the first round, while the Polar Bears' Jimmy Walkinshaw missed wide in the top of the second. Drake Vandermause gave St. Norbert a 2-1 lead with his conversion. Ohio Northern's Tim Hoffman knotted the shootout in the top of the third after the Green Knights' Ben Prange came up empty.

Ohio Northern opened the door in the top of the fourth when Levi King's shot was stopped by St. Norbert goalkeeper Josh Koleske, but St. Norbert's Max Censky was also stopped in the Green Knights' half. The Polar Bears' John Sternasty was then high in the top of the fifth before Winkler decided the outcome.

The Polar Bears outshot St. Norbert 12-4 in the first half before the Green Knights got some momentum in the second half, holding a 9-8 edge in the second 45 minutes, but neither team could score. Ohio Northern had a 5-2 shots advantage in the 20 minutes of overtime. The Polar Bears also had a 10-5 edge in corner kicks and also outfouled St. Norbert 24-13.

Koleske turned in a strong performance in getting his third shutout win of the season, making eight saves in total. Lombardo made three stops for Ohio Northern.