Box Score

LISLE, Ill. - The Benedictine University men's soccer team won a key Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference match by capturing a 2-1 decision over Edgewood College in double overtime.

"What an exciting college soccer match we witnessed tonight," head coach Rich Nassif said. "The crowd was into it and every emotion possible was on display. The game was at times very chippy while you also saw beautiful stretches of play. Edgewood really pushed us to our limits and credit them. But I could not be prouder of our guys for sticking with it, finding an equalizer late, playing through a red card among other distractions, and getting the winner in the 2nd overtime."

The lone shot for Benedictine in either extra session found the back of the net as Ante Markotic tallied his second goal of the match on an identical set up from the first marker. Markotic headed home a feed from Julio Lopez in the box in the 104th minute of action to provide the win.

Benedictine battled from an early deficit as Edgewood opened the scoring just five minutes into the match with an own goal. A shot towards the net was inadvertently kicked into the goal to hand the visitors the early lead.

The intensity picked up as the match wore on with Benedictine battling for an equalizer and both teams applying back and forth pressure. With inside 10 minutes to play, Markotic struck for his first of the night and third of the season on another feed from Lopez to even the score.

"You could see our attack building throughout the game," Nassif said. "Rather than panic once a goal down, we continued to combine in long sequences and work for quality chances. That final pass, through ball, or service was not there for most of the night, but we got it when we needed it. Julio delivered two perfect balls and as he can do, Ante finished with authority on both goals."

Zorohn Reed made two saves in goal including a big stop on the first possession of overtime. Edgewood also hit the post in the waning moments of the first extra session. Anes Kadiric led Benedictine with four shots including two on target. Benedictine held a 12-9 advantage in the taught affair.

"We need to recover and refocus heading into this next week," Nassif added. "We will continue to fine tune some things. But these are three big points we earned tonight. It's a tremendous boost to be on seven points through three matches, especially when we've played three of the six teams who made the conference tournament in 2012."

Benedictine (3-4-1, 2-0-1) remained unbeaten in conference play while handing Edgewood their first defeat. The Eagles will host Rockford on Tuesday night at 7:00 p.m.