Conway, AR – Senior Millsaps Captain, Nico Roth scored three unanswered goals to complete a comeback win for the Majors earlier today against Hendrix College.
Roth's hat trick erased a 2-0 deficit for Millsaps, as they won their first conference road game of the season. The five hour trip to Conway that spanned nearly 300 miles marks the second straight road win for the Majors men's soccer team. It also marks the first hat trick for Roth in 2015.
The intense, wild and exciting ending to today's game improves the Majors to an overall record of 8-2 (2-0 in SAA play).
Hendrix began the match with a great deal of offensive pressure, which led to an early first half lead. Jacob Pierce began the scoring for the contest 22 minutes into the first half on an unassisted goal.
Nearly 10 minutes later, Daniel Sweeney added another score on a pass from Jacob Warren. The 2-0 early lead for Hendrix marked the largest halftime deficit the Majors had faced all season.
"We have to come out more motivated and ready to play," Head Coach Steve Voltz said. "Hendrix is a great team that plays hard and they deservedly held a 2-0 halftime lead on us."
Using the intermission to regroup, the Majors looked towards the leadership and skill of senior captain Nico Roth. Just over 15 minutes into the second half of play, senior Lukas Elmhammarfound Roth open for a scoring opportunity.
Roth buried the shot in the 61st minute to cut the Hendrix lead in half. Eight minutes later, Roth again found the back of the net.
This time, sophomore forward Alex Bourland passed to Roth for a potential game-tying goal. Roth again scored by launching Bourland's pass into the back of the net, bringing the game to a 2-2 draw.
Roth's second goal would close out the scoring in regular time for the contest as both teams entered into the first period of overtime play.
Neither team could find the back of the net in the first overtime, as today's game would take over 100 minutes to determine a winner.
In the 107th minute, Lukas Elmhammar again earned an assist on a pass to Nico Roth. Roth scored the game-winning goal off of Elmhammar's pass to complete the hat trick and finish the comeback 3-2 win for the Majors.
The Majors could finally exhale following Roth's goal as the win improves them to 8-2. After giving up two early first half goals, the Majors did not allow another Hendrix score.
"Jonathan Huebbe came up big for us in overtime," Coach Voltz said. "He had a couple of great saves that otherwise would have won the game for Hendrix."
Huebbe stated five saves (three in overtime) on 17 total shots from Hendrix. The Majors outshot the Warriors 27-17 en route to an intense come from behind win.
"Happy to get the win, but we were not necessarily the more deserving winning team today," Coach Voltz said. "Hendrix is a great team that fights hard and we just weren't able to play our style of soccer."
Today's road game continues a series of four straight games played away from Harper Davis Field.
Next up for the Majors is another conference road game at Berry. The Majors will look to continue the two-game winning streak as they take on the Vikings next Friday, Oct. 9th.
