Botty nets game winner to advance #3 Lions over #2 Thunderducks
HERKIMER, NY – Scoring three goals in the second half and into overtime helped the #3 Nassau Lions defeat #2 Richland 3-2 on Friday (11/13), advancing to the NJCAA DIII National Championship game on Sunday (11/15).
Nassau (20-2-1, 0-0-1) trailed 1-0 early until the 49th minute when Benjamin Alonge scored on an assist from teammate Franky Villegas to tie it up at 1-1.
It was short lived however as the Thunderducks scored five minutes later in the 54th to make it 2-1. Netting the goal was Mikkel Rohde. Assisting was Jordan Shankle.
The Lions answered right back however in the 58th which eventually caused the game to go into overtime. Nassau’s Etienne Botty took an Alonge pass and scored his eight goal of the season.
Botty’s ninth goal came in the extra period, netting the game winner in the 93rd, connecting with teammate Reece Dalton to advance the team to the national championship game.
In goal for Nassau was Andrew Laclaustra. He had nine saves. As for Richland, they had Giovanni Sosa start for them. Sosa had six saves.
Up next for #3 Nassau is #8 Bunker Hill. Both will play each other on Sunday (11/15) for the 2015 NJCAA DIII National Championship at Wehrum Stadium. Game time is 2 p.m.
#2 Richland will play #4 Camden in the third place game on Sunday (11/15). The Thunderducks and Cougars are scheduled to start the day off at 11 a.m.
Score:
#3 Nassau Lions 3, #2 Richland Thunderducks 2 OT
Halftime:
Richland 1-0
LIONS (20-2-1, 0-0-1) Etienne Botty 2-0, Benjamin Alonge 1-1, Franky Villegas 0-1, Reece Dalton 0-1. Andrew Laclaustra 9 saves.
THUNDERDUCKS (14-4-1, 2-0) Mikkel Rohde 1-0, Santiago Aguedelo 1-0, Ronan Fournier 0-1. Giovanni Sosa 6 saves.
-Giorgio Varlaro