Box Score PHOTO GALLERY
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama in Huntsville men's soccer team thrilled a large crowd of supporters in the first-ever night game on campus, erasing a late two-goal deficit to knock off visiting Lincoln Memorial 3-2 in overtime on Sunday night at Charger Park. The Chargers improve to 1-0-1 on the year, while LMU slips to 1-1-0.
 
Newcomer Anthony Benitez had it down the right side with just over two minutes remaining in the first overtime and fed the ball into open space in the middle of the field where freshman Nathan Gillespie used one touch to send it on to Huntsville native Kyle Simmons just inside the box, and Simmons buried it home to spark a raucous celebration in front of the largest assembly of fans to watch a soccer match at Charger Park.
 
The exciting conclusion seemed somewhat unlikely with just under 10 minutes to go in the contest and UAH trailing 2-0 after the visiting Railsplitters had scored in the 79th minute to produce a 2-0 advantage, but in the 81st minute Simmons would cut the LMU lead in half as Mitch Wilson played it forward to the junior who fired it into the back of the net.
 
The two juniors have connected for goals now five times in their careers, including last year in the season opener at Lincoln Memorial.
 
The score proved a spark for the Blue and White, and just under two minutes later in the 83rd, UAH was rewarded for its increased intensity as the ball caromed off of Isleifur Gudmundsson in a scrum to the right of the LMU keeper and went into the goal to tie the affair and ultimately force extra time. Junior Sam Dean picked up the assist on the score.
 
Playing in their second overtime game in as many contests, the Chargers then received a boost from freshman keeper Will Carpenter who leapt to his right and made a diving stop on a try in the 96th minute to extend the contest. Carpenter would finish the evening with five saves.
 
Prior to the Simmons score that ended the game, UAH – spurned on by the terrific stop in goal – had a pair of golden opportunities at the other end of the field as both Ryo Suzuki and Yuri Ivanov made strong bids to earn the game-winner.
 
On the evening, UAH held a 13-10 advantage in shots, though shots on goal were even at 7-7. The Railsplitters dominated in corner kicks, taking nine compared to just two for UAH.
 
The game was quite physical with the teams being whistled for 49 fouls, and the referee booked a total of 10 players during the match.
 
UAH will now turn its attention to its conference opener as Shorter visits Charger Park on Friday at 7 p.m. to begin GSC play.