REDLANDS, Calif. -- A overtime goal by Elijah Shipman lifted the UT Tyler men's soccer team to a 2-1 win over Randolph in the sectional semifinals of the 2011 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship at Farquhar Field on the campus of University of Redlands.
Earning a spot among the final eight teams still playing in the country, the Patriots (18-2-2) will meet Calvin College (17-5-2) at 7 p.m. CST Saturday. On the line is a trip to San Antonio and a spot in the national semifinals. The final four teams will play for the national title Dec. 2-3 at Blossom Soccer Stadium in San Antonio.
Down 1-0 at the half after a goal by Randolph's Tyler Gilchrist in the 37th minute, UT Tyler's leading scorer, Victor Almendariz, used an assist from Shipman in the box to connect on his 11th goal of the season and even the score with about 35-minutes remaining in the game.
The Patriots, who took 19 shots in the game to Randolph's 10, threatened to score several times during the final minutes of regulation, but three second-half saves by WildCats' keeper C.J. Stevens sent the match into the sudden-victory overtime. Almendariz led all players with five shots in the match.
Randolph ends its best-ever season with a 18-6 record.
Calvin advanced to a thrid straight national quarterfinal appearance with a 5-3 penalty-kick shootout after tying host Redlands 1-1 in double overtime. Calvin converted all five of its penalty chances and sophomore goalkeeper Mirza Harambasic came up with a critical save on Redlands’ fourth penalty attempt. Calvin is 12-9-5 all-time in NCAA tournament play and has won five consecutive shootouts in NCAA tournament play. Redlands ended its season 20-3-1.
-Courtesy University of Texas at Tyler and Calvin College Sports Information Departments