Colorado Springs, CO- Men's Soccer played in their third final four semifinal match in four years on a chilly Thursday night in Colorado Springs at Weidnar Field. The Golden Eagles would produce one of the most thrilling games of the year as they toppled the Greyhounds of the University of Indianapolis.
 
The Basics
Location- Weidnar Field- Colorado Springs
Score: UC 1 UIndy 1 (5-4 Penalty Kicks)
Records: Charleston (19-1-3, 14-1-1 MEC) UIndy (18-1-3, 11-1-2)
 
How it Happened
The backdrop for the night's match between the two powerhouses of Division II Men's Soccer was beautiful as the Rocky Mountains overlooked Weidnar Field, home of Switchbacks Football Club. The atmosphere at the stadium was second to none as well, with all the feel of a professional soccer game for the semifinal matchup between the two rivals.
 
As usual UC looked to stick to their game plan of possessing the ball and applying pressure to the defense. However, unlike many other games this year, UIndy was not one to back down from the pressure. The Greyhounds pushed right back against Charleston and made it difficult for the Golden Eagles to get any scoring chances early in the game.
 
In the war of attrition, the Golden Eagles would be the first ones to falter. After a long throw-in from the left wing by Kendall Allen the ball would rattle around inside UC's 18-yard box before being sent back out to Allen. Allen would slot home a beautiful shot into the top right corner of the net to give the Greyhounds a lead with 15 minutes left to play in the first half.
 
At the end of the first half UC trailed 1-0.
 
For the next 39 minutes the Golden Eagles would desperately look to find an equalizer. Run after run was thwarted by the Greyhounds but every proceeding opportunity UC had looked more promising than the last. Eventually, in the 84^th minute Charleston's Luis Maestre would find himself in the same spot as Allen just an hour earlier. Maestre made a long throw in that would be sent right back to his left foot, he sent a towering ball into the 18 that found the chest of captain Gabriel Rodriguez. The ball would ricochet of Rodriguez and find just enough space for the goal scoring machine Alejandro Larrayoz to send the ball from his left foot into the top left corner of the net.
 
The goal by Larrayoz would be his 12^th on the season, tying Rodriguez who assisted him for the team lead.
 
With just six minutes left to play the whole tone of the match shifted from survive to finish. Dan Smee's team knew they had the Greyhounds on the ropes and did not let off the gas. They kept applying constant pressure and were almost able to add another goal off the left foot of All American Ploutarchos Alonefti but for a miraculous save by UIndy goalkeeper Dimitrios Karousos.
 
The game would head into a sudden death overtime with Charleston still applying constant pressure. There were a few opportunities created by All American Alexis Ledoux who ended up playing an absurd 93 minutes in the midfield. But it was not to be and UC would head into a second overtime.
 
This time UIndy applied a bit more pressure, desperate not to go to penalty kicks with the ever-dominant PK team of Charleston. UC would tally three shots to UIndy's two in the second overtime,but no Golden Goal would be had.
 
In the Penalty Kick shootout up stepped the PK specialist ian De Oliveira Martins. UC's All- American selection Gabriel Rodriguez would find the back of the net with his first penalty giving Charleston early momentum. Martins would step up to the goal line eager to help his team. The first shot had eyes for the middle-left  of the net but Martins guessed correctly and dove headlong, making an incredible save.
 
From there both teams would make the rest of their goals with the big moment coming from Alexis Ledoux. Ledoux would step up with a chance to send Charleston to their third National Championship appearance in four years. The Frenchman would slot home his shot into the bottom right corner and UC would walk away victorious.
 
On the night, UC outshot UIndy 15-9 and only received one yellow card from Luis Maestre.
 
Up Next
The Golden Eagles will have a rematch with their previous opponent from the 2019 National Championship in Cal State LA at 3 PM on Saturday.