CHARLOTTE, N.C. – The Queens University of Charlotte men's soccer team won a thrilling contest 3-2 in overtime against the Tusculum Pioneers on a beautiful Saturday evening under the lights at Dickson Field. Queens moves to 3-1 on the season and 1-0 in the SAC while Tusculum falls to 1-1 on the season, and 0-1 in conference play.
 
Royals fans did not have to wait very long to see their team on the scoreboard. With a great overlapping run behind senior Thiago Andrade, Ryan Kawczynski was able to find sophomore Erick Suarez at the top of the box. Suarez had a peach of a first touch and was then able to send the ball goal-bound to the goalie's right.
 
With Dickson Field in a tizzy, Tusculum looked out of their element, having made the four-hour drive from Greenville, Tennessee. For a few minutes it looked like Queens would add to their lead, but the Pioneers were able to tighten up just enough to keep Queens out of the net.
 
Tusculum began to pick up their pace and connect passes from the midfield to the forwards. Roberto Pimentel, the Pioneers captain, was particularly threatening. Pimentel received a pass at the top of the 18 yard box that was just out of leg reach, but was able to chest the ball in the direction of freshman forward Jonathan Spicher, who delivered a finish to the near post that barely eluded Queens keeper Montrell Morgan in the 10th minute.
 
Tusculum, gaining in confidence, was quick to strike six minutes later on a mix-up in the Royals backline. Off of a Jonathan Spicher pass, Tyler Linkous was able to chip keeper Montrell Morgan. It was a deflating goal for the Royals, as a lack of communication in the back hurt the home team.
 
Tusculum continued pressing from the 20th minute onwards, and that continued into the second half, with Queens struggling mightily to connect the simplest passes together.
 
Queens was able to stay strong defensively, vowing not to make the same mistakes they made in the first half that led to two Tusculum goals. The Pioneers would not stop moving forward, though, and only barely missed several scoring opportunities.
 
As the second half wound down and with the game strongly in doubt, Queens got a set piece courtesy of a foul on Erick Suarez. Andrade stepped up to take the kick but was unable to put the ball over the first defender, a cardinal rule for set pieces.
 
Andrade would get his revenge, stepping up in the 87th minute to try another set piece from virtually the same spot on the field. This time, he would get the ball beyond the first defender, and more, as the ball somehow fell to Gersi Cilingiri who was able to put enough boot on the ball, giving a surprise equalizer to the Royals.
 
Just as the fingernails of the spectators at Dickson Field were ground down, two overtime periods of 10 minutes were set to begin. As it is in college soccer, the first team to score in one of those overtime periods wins the game.
 
Queens, from the first whistle in the overtime period, dominated possession. Coach Oliver Carias had sparked his players in a way that was a complete 180 from the 20th minute of the game onward.
 
In the second minute of overtime, an Andrade goal was promptly called offside, in what looked like a questionable call, as another Queens player looked to be the one in an offside position.
 
Working tirelessly, another Andrade move was left unfinished as he slotted a ball into the feet of senior Felipe Netto, who left it off for Suarez. Suarez's momentum got the best of him and he was unable to get enough on the shot. Fortunately, he did just enough to gain a corner.
 
On the subsequent corner, Andrade, who had learned his lesson about getting the ball over the first defender, crossed in a beauty, which found the head of Jonathan Onyeaka. Onyeaka got plenty on the ball but keeper Ashley Elsey made one of the better saves you will ever see a goalie make, pushing Onyeaka's header over the crossbar.
 
The first overtime whistle sounded, but the momentum was squarely in Queens' favor. The second overtime period started exactly the same as the first, and Queens promptly gained possession and pushed back the Tusculum defense, forcing the opposition to park the bus in front of their own goal.
 
That wouldn't faze the Royals, as Andrade received the ball at the corner of the 18 yard box and placed a beautiful service to the far post, where Onyeaka used his size to easily beat his man and head the ball goal-bound.
 
Not even knowing the golden goal rule of college soccer, Onyeaka started running back to his position when he was tackled by teammates, who were screaming that he had won them the game. The freshman, from England, has always played to a draw, unless it was a playoff game. Even then, those games were not sudden death.
 
It was an absolutely thrilling finish to a game where Queens was able to fight tooth and nail to get a positive result. It was a perfect start to their South Atlantic Conference season and one that players and fans alike will remember for a long time.
 
The men return to Dickson Field next Wednesday night as they take on North Greenville University. Game time is at 7:30 p.m.