Griffins' late goal in semifinal action negated by Westminster's overtime goal

Fulton, Mo. - Fontbonne University men's soccer fell to the hands of Westminster College in the St. Louis Intercollegiate Athletic Conference semifinal round. The Griffins finish the 2016 season with an 8-11-1 overall record. 

Fog began to creep on the field at the start of the game as displayed in the picture. It started at one end and made it's way down to the other until halftime fog was down the entire center of the grass field. 

Junior goalkeeper Tony Pitaro got his hands on Westminster's shot in the 41st minute but it wasn't enough as the Blue Jays took a 1-0 lead. In the first half, Westminster outshot Fontbonne 8-1. 

With seven minutes left in the game, Westminster achieved a large breakaway as Drew Cook was all alone dribbling the ball down the middle of the field towards Pitaro. Griffin fans jumped in the air as Pitaro made the sliding save to avert a Westminster 2-0 lead.

Fontbonne was able to get on the scoreboard in the 88th minute when senior Ryan Curran planted a cross to the middle of the field. After the ball bounced over a defender's foot, junior David Keeven adjusted his step and took a shot to the left side of the goal. The ball reflected off a Blue Jay and went through the hands of Westminster's goalie, tying the game. 

Westminster had a big chance to win the game with three minutes left in the first overtime but their shot went wide, but it didn't matter. A minute later they scored the game winning goal, sending them to the SLIAC Tournament Championship and ending Fontbonne's season. 

Westminster finished the game with a 20-7 shot advantage and 7-2 corner kick advantage. Pitaro made five saves in his final game of the season. He tallied 67 on the year. 

Austin Willenbrock and Nick Wolf finished the season with 13 points each for Fontbonne. Willenbrock recorded four goals and five assists while Wolf compiled five goals and three assists. Also notching a team-leading five goals on the year was junior Ryan Dudley. He also recorded two assists. 

The SLIAC will announce postseason honors after Saturday's SLIAC Tournament Championship game.