INDIANAPOLIS – In the midst of the program’s first Sweet 16 appearance in the NCAA Division II Men’s Soccer Championship bracket, No. 2 seed Lake Erie saw its season come to an end against No. 6 Fort Hays State in the Super Region 3 semifinals on Thursday.
 
The Storm saw their first-half lead disappear at Key Stadium, eventually falling on the shorter end of a 3-2 final in double overtime. The third-round of the national tournament represented the semifinals across all four super regions.
 
Senior midfielder Daniel Utgaard scored a pair of goals in the first 45 minutes of regulation, putting Lake Erie comfortably in the driver’s seat against the GAC/MIAA tournament champion Lions.
 
Utgaard first scored in the ninth minute in unassisted fashion for an important early edge. Teammate Tomas Fernandez helped provide the assist for the Storm’s second goal that was registered at the 37:45 mark.
 
With time of the essence, Fort Hays State demonstrated resilience to come back from the 2-0 deficit that would bury most teams. The Lions scored a pair of goals in about a 14-minute span to eventually tie things up in regulation in the 87th minute.
 
Leading scorer Blake Arndt did what he does best and delivered the game winner midway through double overtime before PK’s could ensue.
 
Goalkeepers had to be on their toes for the duration of the match as both teams combined for 46 total shots. Fort Hays fired off 26 and Lake Erie sprayed 20, including six from the Storm in the first overtime session seeking out the golden goal.
 
Lake Erie was the Great Midwest Athletic Conference regular season champion, tournament champion and league’s automatic qualifier in the NCAA Championship field. The Storm concluded their outstanding 2021 campaign with a 16-4-1 overall record.