DENVER, Colo. – Kansas City's Arne Neufang scored on a direct kick in the 95th minute to lead the fourth-seeded Roos to a 3-2 upset of top-seeded Oral Roberts in the opening semifinal of the 2022 #SummitMSOC Championship.
Neufang curled his free kick just by the outstretched hands of ORU goalkeeper Jeremy Coste to put the Roos in their first final since 2009.
The Roos appeared in good shape to win the match in regulation after scoring a pair of second-half goals to build a 2-0 advantage.
Edson Muguira put KC on the board in the 67th minute with his first goal of the season, then Christian Koffi padded the lead with his fifth tally of the season in the 79th minute.
The advantage would not last long, however, as the League's Offensive Player of the Year willed his team into extra time.
Felipe D'Agostini would put the Golden Eagles within a goal after converting a penalty kick in the 85th minute. He then squared things up at 2-2 with only three seconds remaining with his second goal in just over five minutes.
Neufang's third goal of the season gave the momentum back to the Roos, who would hold off the nation's second-highest scoring offense the rest of the way.
Kansas City will play the winner of the second semifinal on Saturday at 2 p.m. MT/3 p.m. CT.
Turning point
- Nuefang snuck a direct kick into the upper left corner of the frame to put the Roos ahead for good in the fifth minute of the first extra session.
Inside the box score
- ORU held a 13-8 advantage in shots as both teams, but both teams put five shots on goal.
- ORU held a 4-1 edge on shots in the first half with D'Agostini putting the only one on goal in the 29th minute.
- The Golden Eagles allowed only four goals in eight League matches and had recorded four straight shutouts entering the postseason.
- Kansas City's three goals equaled its season-high output and were the most against a League foe.
- The five combined goals are the most in a tournament match since Oakland (5) and Purdue Fort Wayne (1) combined for six in a 2012 semifinal-match.
News & Notes
- The Roos will be plalying in their first final since returning to the League prior to the 2020 season and first overall since 2009. Kansas City was a member of the Western Athletic Conference from 2013-19.
- This is the second time Kansas City has advanced to the final as a No. 4 seed. IUPUI was the last No. 4 seed to win the title in 2000.
- D'Agostini's two goals pushed his season total to a League-high nine.
#SummitMSOC
