MEN’S SOCCER

The 4th-seeded Forester men’s soccer team is moving on to the semifinals of the Crossroads League Tournament after a 3-1 double OT win over 5th-seeded Taylor Saturday afternoon at King Stadium. The quarterfinal HU win avenged their 3-0 regular season loss to the Trojans back on September 28.

Regulation saw Higor Barbieri score his first goal of the game in the 28th minute. In a race to a loose ball, the crafty forward chipped it up and over a diving Taylor keeper right in front of the box and then overpowered a defender to bury it back netting.

Huntington continued pressing their guests but couldn’t get anything to stick to which the Trojans eventually took advantage of by scoring with nine minutes left in regulation to draw things even at 1-1 and send the game to overtime.

The Foresters dominated the first OT with the game-winner coming at the foot of Barbieri. With just over two minutes left in the first extra period, Barbieri blistered a shot off the crossbar that ricocheted in. So far this season, he has racked up 14 goals which includes seven game-winners.

New this year, instead of sudden death, is a two-period OT so the celebration was quick as HU had to get right back to work with another pay-off coming just over a minute later when Joao Ratinho, after juking a defender, slotted the keeper for his thirteenth goal this fall. It made for a 3-1 cushion that put the game out of reach as the second OT came and went without incident.

Both teams finished with six shots on goals with overall shots favoring Huntington 17-13. Pedro Moreira collected four saves in the winning effort between the pipes.

“This was a great effort today against a strong and well-organized Taylor side,” said Coach Russ Lawson. “I thought the boys responded extremely well to giving up a late equalizer by coming out flying in overtime.

“Higor and Joao were dynamic today and we’re very thankful they found the back of the net for us to advance.”

With this win, the Foresters move to 13-5-1 and bring an end to TU’s season. HU is headed to the CL tournament semis on Wednesday to face top-seeded Bethel at Morey Field.