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Millersville, Pa. - After two regulation periods, two overtime periods and a total of 20 shooutout attempts, the Millersville men's soccer team advanced to the PSAC Semifinals over California (Pa.). With the score tied at 1-1 following 110 minutes, the Marauders won the shootout period 8-7 to move on to the conference semifinals for the sixth straight season.

Brad Benzing made three crucial stops in goal during the shootout period for Millersville (9-8-1). The 8-7 penalty kick decision lifted the Marauders to 2-1 in shootouts at home under head coach Steve Widdowson. Benzing recorded two saves in the game while junior Ryan Rohrer scored the game-tying goal in the eighth minute on a pass from Jaime Vazquez.

The Marauders had plenty of opportunities to score again as they out-shot the Vulcans 24-16 and took six more corners (11-5). Senior Matt Kadoch led the offensive attack with 11 shots for Millersville.

California (11-6-2) got on the board first when forward Jeffrey Kyei scored in the fifth minute on a blast from 20 yards away. Tyler Woolum led the Vulcans with four shots. Goalkeeper Mitch Mack gathered six saves in the PSAC quarterfinal match.

After Kyei's score, Rohrer and Millersville responded just three minutes later. Vazquez played a give and go with William Taylor just inside the California box. As soon as Vazquez received the ball back from Taylor he cut back and played a pass to the top of the box to a charging Rohrer. Rohrer fired the shot to the lower right corner of the goal and beat Mack to tie the game at one goal a piece at the 8:23 mark.

Throughout the rest of regulation neither team could break through, and the conference foes entered overtime deadlocked at one.

The first overtime period was controlled by Millersville. The Marauders took six shots and had their best scoring opportunity of the game when Kadoch had shot saved by Mack and the rebound fell to freshman Jeramey Robbins. With Mack on the ground and a defender right behind him, Robbins sailed his shot high and the game would go to a second extra session with the score remaining, 1-1.

California picked up momentum in the second overtime frame taking three shots to Millersville's none. However, Benzing and the Marauder defense were able to keep the Vulcans off the board and force the shootout period.

The first three players team's were able to finish their shootout attempts into the back of the net. Mack made the first save when he stopped Rohrer's shot on the fourth Marauder attempt. With the Vulcans able to gain an advantage with only one player from each team remaining, Benzing answered. He made a diving save to his right to keep the shootout count tied at three.

Vazquez beat Mack to the right on the Marauders fifth attempt. Unfortunately for Millersville, California (Pa.) midfielder Christopher Karns also made his attempt to force extra shootout attempts.

In the first set of extra penalty kicks, junior Alex Perea had his shot saved by Mack, and it left the door open for the Vulcans to advance to the PSAC Semifinals on the next kick. Again, Benzing responded. This time he dove to his left to record his second save in the shootout period, keeping Millersville's season hopes alive.

The next three players for each team were able to successfully score, forcing the teams to bring a 10th player to the penalty mark. Freshman Zack Brier stepped up to the ball and buried his shot into the upper right part of the goal, giving Millersville a one goal advantage. Gaby Deller-Borgono stepped in for Cal, and his shot to the right was handled easily by Benzing, giving Millersville the 8-7 decision.

The Marauders have not lost to the Vulcans in the past four postseason meetings and improve to 9-1-1 against California (Pa.) under Widdowson.

Millersville now travels to Mercyhurst to take on the Lakers Saturday, Nov. 3 at 1:30 p.m. Mercyhurst won the only meeting between these two teams this season, 3-0.

Tickets are $7 for adults, $2 for students, and PSAC students are admitted free when they show their school ID.

Full tournament coverage can be found here or by visiting the PSAC website.