*NOTE* The red card issued did not result in any additional penalty or affect the player count towards the final outcome
TIFFIN, Ohio – Nemanja Acimovic crashed the box on a set piece placed perfectly by Alexandre Horveno in overtime to lift No. 4 Ohio Valley over No. 5 Marvyille in the NCAA Championship Midwest Regional on Friday, 2-1.
Acimovic’s final blow left Maryville stunned on the pitch as the Fighting Scots were relentless in Maryville's defensive end of the field towards the start of overtime.
After going to the final 16 of the last year’s championship bracket and serving as the regional host, OVU is proving to be a dangerous draw after taking down the Great Lakes Valley Conference champion Saints.
Ohio Valley advances to the second round of the regional on Sunday against nemesis, top seed and Great Midwest regular-season/tournament champion Tiffin in a rematch of the conference title game.
OVU scored early in the 13th minute as all-conference forward Juan Hoyos found a crease in the Maryville defense from the left side of the box.
The Saints came back and scored the equalizer midway through the second half off the foot of Dom Riggio at the 64:48 mark.
Acimovic was able to fire off a shot that was saved shortly after OVU was issued a red card with less than eight minutes in regulation. Overtime ensued and the relentless OVU offense took five straight corner kicks before capitalizing on Horveno’s assist.
Horveno now has 15 assists in the regular season/postseason, earning the title of the national leader in Division II.
OVU held a commanding lead in the shot department, firing off 20 to Maryville’s six. This game also represented a rematch from a meeting earlier in the regular season when both OVU and MU were nationally ranked in the United Soccer Coaches Poll.
Between Ohio Valley’s men and women and Walsh’s women, the Great Midwest is a perfect 3-0 in soccer championship quarterfinal first-round opportunities.