WASHINGTON -- As advertised, the 2015 BIG EAST Men's Soccer Championship final was one for the record books as the top-seeded Georgetown Hoyas won their first-ever regular season title, 2-1, over second-place Creighton in front of a home crowd of 1,541 at Shaw Field. Hoya junior forward Alex Muyl scored the golden goal in the 107th minute off an assist from Matthew Ledder. Muyl wove through the defense then bent the ball to far corner pocket for the double overtime game-winner.
The title was a first for the Hoyas, who won the BIG EAST Regular Season title just 10 days ago defeating the same opponent by the same score on the same field.
"It was an amazing game, I think it takes two teams to make a great game and we had two great teams representing the conference today," said Georgetown head coach Brian Wiese. "Creighton is one of the best teams we play and we had to deal with them twice in almost a week's span, which is tough. But with the quality of the competition, you see the quality of the game. This one could have gone either way, in the first overtime if [Fabian] Herbers doesn't hit that post, we have a different outcome. I'm thrilled for the program, I've been in the BIG EAST a long time and have never gotten to hold the trophy so it is a great feeling."
With the win, Georgetown (15-2-2), ranked third nationally, extended their unbeaten streak to a record 16 games (15-0-1) and has won 13-straight. Fifth-ranked Creighton had started their season 15-0-0, fell to 17-3-0.
Both teams await their fate on selection Monday, as the NCAA releases the men's soccer championship field in a 1 p.m. selection show on NCAA.com. Georgetown will receive the BIG EAST's automatic qualifier, while Creighton is expected to get a high seed as an at-large team.
"I think the BIG EAST is deserving of getting four teams into the NCAA tournament. I would be disappointed if Butler and Xavier were not on the board tomorrow," said Wiese. "I think when you take a look at all the teams we play, Xavier and Butler are among the best with some of the best players in the country. Dealing with Xavier twice was two of the hardest games that we have had to manage this year. I am hoping that the numbers line up in the league's favor tomorrow. I would like to think that Creighton is a high seed and we are a high seed and I'd like to see another two teams in the tournament. We will keep our fingers crossed."
BIG EAST Midfielder of the Year and All-BIG EAST First Team selection, Timo Pitter, collected a pass from Ricardo Perez and beat Georgetown keeper JT Marcinkowski, BIG EAST Freshman of the Year, in the 17th minute to give Creighton the early, 1-0 advantage. Marcinkowski laid out for it and got a glove on it, but the ball snuck in to make it 1-0.
Georgetown regrouped, and managed the equalizer as senior defender Keegan Rosenberry served in a ball from the right side and Brandon Allen charged the net to tap it in to tie the game in the 20th minute. The goal was Allen’s 49th of his career tying him for the program’s all-time leader in goals.
From that point on, Creighton was on the attack looking to regain the lead. In the 31st minute, Pitter sent in a ball that got past Marcinkowski who was off of his line. The defense stood strong, and senior defender Cole Seiler made a huge stop on the line to keep it tied.
Despite two late Creighton corner kicks, neither team found the back of the net again as the squads went into the break tied at one.
The match remained knotted at 1-1 after 90 minutes of play, and the BIG EAST Championship final headed into extra time, a first for Creighton this season and the fifth time for Georgetown.
In the 92nd minute, Creighton nearly found its game-winning goal when BIG EAST Offensive Player of the Year Fabian Herbers fired a shot that struck the right post. Seconds later, the Marcinkowski made a diving, fingertip save on an attempt by Pitter.
Creighton controlled the majority of the first overtime period, outshooting the Hoyas, 5-0; however, Georgetown escaped the opening overtime session unscathed, forcing a second and final overtime period.
Creighton outshot Georgetown, 23-20, but the Hoyas took 10 corner kicks to the Bluejays’ six. Marcinkowski took the win in the net with three saves, while Co-BIG EAST Goalkeeper of the Year Connor Sparrow had five saves in the contest but took the loss. Sparrow had four saves in the second period.
With 3:07 remaining in the second extra period, Muyl weaved between two defenders and had a clear look at the far post, bending it into the net and sending the crowd into a frenzy and winning the Hoyas the championship.
For Creighton, Herbers, Sparrow and Ricardo Perez were named to the All-Tournament Team, as was Marcinkowski, Allen, Muyl and Joshua Yaro for Georgetown. Yaro was named Most Outstanding Defensive Player of the Tournament, while Allen, who had two goals in two games was named Most Outstanding Offensive Player.
2015 BIG EAST Men's Soccer All-Tournament Team
Cory Brown, Xavier, So., D
Todd Pratzner, Xavier, Jr., D
Jeff Kilday, Providence, RS-Sr., M
Julian Gressel, Providence, Jr., M
Fabian Herbers, Creighton, Jr., M/F
Ricardo Perez, Creighton, Jr., M/F
Connor Sparrow, Creighton, Sr., GK
JT Marcinkowski, Georgetown, Fr., GK
Brandon Allen, Georgetown, Sr., F
Joshua Yaro, Georgetown, Jr., D
Alex Muyl, Georgetown, Jr., F
Most Outstanding Defensive Player: Joshua Yaro, Georgetown
Most Outstanding Offensive Player: Brandon Allen, Georgetown