WILMINGTON, North Carolina – Junior midfielder Omar Aboutaleb scored the game-winning goal with 2:48 remaining in the second overtime period to lead UNCW to a 3-2 victory over Northeastern in Colonial Athletic Association men's soccer action at the UNCW Soccer Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Seahawks, who have won four of their last five games, upped their record to 7-3-0 overall and 2-1-0 in the CAA. Northeastern, meanwhile, dipped to 7-2-1 overall and 2-1-0 in the circuit after having its five-game win streak snapped.
Aboutaleb gave the Seahawks the victory when he took a quick pass from junior forward Jalen Anderson and slipped a shot past redshirt sophomore Colby Hegarty for his third goal of the season, setting off a wild celebration by the Seahawks.
Led by graduate student midfielder Jacob Evans, the Seahawks surged to a 2-0 lead in the game's opening 51 minutes. Evans got things started in the seventh minute when his free kick went off the head of graduate student defender Dylan Sadler before junior forward Cannon Tootle headed it into the goal for his second marker of the year.
Evans followed just under six minutes into the second half by converting a penalty kick after Hegarty was called for a foul inside the penalty area. It was Evans' second goal in as many games.
But, Northeastern answered with two goals to even the score and force the overtime periods. Sophomore forward Harry Sankey trimmed the deficit to 2-1 in the 57th minute when he scored off a rebound of a shot by sophomore forward Federico Tellez.
The Huskies tied the game with just 13 seconds remaining when Tellez sent a corner kick into the penalty area that was headed into the goal by senior defender Jack Monte for his second goal of the season.
Junior goalkeeper Gabriel Perrotta made a season-high nine saves in the win for UNCW, which was outshot by a commanding 18-8 margin.
Hegarty notched one save for Northeastern, which lost for the first time since a 1-0 setback to No. 12 New Hampshire on Sept. 7.
UNCW begins a two-game road swing on Tuesday, Oct. 5, when the Seahawks face Virginia for a 7 p.m. non-conference contest. Northeastern hosts Boston College on Tuesday night with a 6 p.m. kickoff at Parsons Field.
