Rogers Scores Golden Goal in 103rd Minute to Propel No. 8 Harvard to 1-0 Victory at Yale

Pictured: Brian Rogers scored the game's only goal at 102:53 of the second overtime.
Courtesy: Dave Silverman

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – After waiting two hours to start the game due to lightning, the eighth-ranked Harvard men’s soccer team earned a dramatic, 1-0, double overtime victory at archrival Yale Saturday evening.

In the 103rd minute of action, freshman Brian Rogers broke a scoreless tie with his fifth goal of the season, as he shot the ball into the left corner. Andre Akpan and Adam Rousmaniere moved the ball to the left post, where Rogers accepted the ball and fired into the back of the net at 102:53.  Rogers's goal also lifted Harvard its first Ivy League victory of the year.

Despite outshooting Yale, 12-1, in the first half and 19-8 during regulation, including 6-0 in shots on goal, the Crimson, which improves to 7-1 overall, could not muster a goal during the first 90 minutes of play. Early in the first overtime, Brian Grimm kicked a shot on net, but Yale’s Travis Chulick turned aside the scoring opportunity. Moments later, Andre Akpan mustered his sixth shot of the game, but Chulick again made the save.

Harvard owned an 8-3 advantage in corner kicks for the game. Austin Harms made zero saves for his fourth shutout of the season for the Crimson, while Chulick, stopped eight Harvard shots. The Crimson returns home to host Holy Cross at Ohiri Field Wednesday at 3 p.m.