Box Score STEUBENVILLE – Junior Leo Herrmann provided fireworks for the Franciscan men's soccer team with an incredible goal just a minute into overtime to lift the Barons to a 4-3 win overtime over Geneva.
Herrmann finished the day with his first hat trick of the season to help the Barons to their first-ever win over the Golden Tornadoes.
With the score knotted 3-3 in the waning minutes of overtime, Franciscan kept the pressure on the Geneva back line and was awarded a corner kick but the Golden Tornadoes cleared the ball away and the two teams headed into overtime for the first time in series history.
The aggressive play didn't let up in the extra minute but Franciscan was able to keep possession in front of the Geneva net. The Barons put pressure on the Gevena line and likewise the Golden Tornadoes did not allow a Baron to get their feet free enough to take a clean shot until Herrmann worked the ball off of the foot of a Geneva defender which forced the goalie to come out of position and he sent the ball into the back of the net for a thrilling 4-3 win over the Golden Tornadoes.
The Golden Tornadoes came out in the first half firing on all cylinders and appeared to take control of the game early with two quick scores in the 14th and 15th minute., both by Abel Carleton.
After an offside call against Geneva gave the possession back to Franciscan, Herrmann set a rocket towards the net and just narrowly missed his first goal of the game as the ball ricocheted off of the crossbar. Just 10 seconds later, Herrmann found the ball in front of the net and forced the keeper to break to his right and put the ball in the net to his left to cut the lead to 2-1 with 36:21 to play in the first.
Just seven minutes later after a Geneva yellow card, senior captain Joseph Duran sent a good ball down the right side of the goal and hustled to the end line to save it from going out. Duran curved the ball in front of the net for senior Joe Francis who was charging towards the goal and one timed it past the goalie to tie the game, 2-2 with less than 10 to play in the first.
The Golden tornadoes once again took the lead as they came out of half time and capitalized on quick scoring opportunity as Liam O'Halloran gained control of the ball about 25 yards out and dribbled into the box and beat the Franciscan keeper with a quick touch to give Geneva a 3-2 lead.
That lead would be short lived, however, as the Barons seemed to have an answer for Geneva. In the 59th minute, Duran took a corner for the Barons as he usually does and placed the ball perfectly at Herrmann's head who headed in the net to tie the game at 3-3.
Both teams had their chances in regulation to put the game away, but neither team could end it before the final buzzer sounded.
The Barons were coming off a 1-1 double overtime tie on Saturday and Herrmann and the Franciscan front line did everything they could to lift the Barons to victory.
Franciscan and Geneva were evenly matched in shots, 12-12, though the Golden Tornadoes held an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks.
Junior Tom Dosedel started the game in net for the Barons and made one save in his 62 minutes of action while sophomore John Bolster came in for the Barons late in the second half and saved the only shot he faced for his first win of the year.
The Barons look to build on tonight's win as they travel to the Bethany Tournament this weekend and face Muskingum on Saturday at 2pm and Alfred State on Sunday at 1pm.
