ANDERSON, S.C. - Junior captain Lars Zimmerman knocked home a 91st minute goal in extra time for his second goal of the afternoon to lead Anderson University men's soccer past Conference Carolinas member Mount Olive for a 3-2 win Wednesday afternoon at Trojan Stadium.
With the victory, AU jumps back to .500 overall with an even 6-6 record, while UMO falls to 3-8-2 on the season as it suffered its eighth loss in its last nine contests. Anderson, which has one more nonconference match on the docket for this season, has won three of its last four matches, bouncing back from a three-match setback streak.
Zimmerman records his first multi-goal match since a 2-0 victory over Lenoir-Rhyne on Oct. 27, 2012, as he scored two goals in a match for the third time in his collegiate career on Wednesday. Zimmerman also becomes the first Trojan to score twice in a game since Andre Carle scored twice in a 2-1 victory against UNC Pembroke on Oct. 16, 2013.
Despite the last minute heroics, it was the visitors who struck first in the match as UMO's Edrisa Chune received a through ball from Cody Suite and fired a shot to AU goalkeeper Devon Ashy's left side and gave the Mount Olive a 1-0 lead in the fifth minute of action. For Chune, the tally was his first of the season.
UMO continued its attack in the 34th minute when Nikoli Iotov sent a cross from the left side to the far-post where he found Shelby Lickliter. Lickliter slotted a shot past Ashy to his left and handed the visitors a convincing two-goal lead as the teams went into halftime.
Anderson out-shot its opposition 9-6 for the first 45 minutes as Carle fired three shots while teammate Hodaka Yonezawa tallied two shots. Despite the shooting spree, Carle and senior Martin Brain were the only two Trojans with shots on goal with one apiece.
In the second half, AU created more chances by pushing players forward facing the two-goal deficit. Carle got the Trojans back into the contest in the 60th minute when a through ball was played by Yonezawa to the forward. With the ball at his feet and UMO's goalkeeper, Nick Bernsdorf, coming out of goal, Carle hit the back of the net for AU's first goal of the day. For Carle, the goal was his fourth of the season as he tied freshman Magnus Larsen for the team-lead.
With Anderson controlling, Zimmerman scored his first of the match in the 76th minute when Yonezawa sent a cross into the UMO box. Before touching Carle who flicked the ball to Zimmerman, the Malente, Germany native had an open net to work with and evened the score at 2-2. With the tally, Zimmerman has scored in two of AU's last four matches.
The Trojans managed just two shots for the remainder of regulation as it sealed AU's second straight extra time match. For the second period, Anderson totaled 14 shots marking the highest shot total for half this season.
Just 35 seconds into extra time, the Black and Gold found its game-winner as defender Oliver Wright sent a long free kick into the opposing box. After Larsen headed on the pass, Zimmerman found the ball and fired a shot past substitute goalkeeper Adam Lawrence, sealing the victory.
With the two-goal performance, Zimmerman moved up the goal scoring list and ranks third on the team in goals scored with three this season. For the captain's career, Zimmerman has scored 12 goals after scoring seven in 2012 and two a season ago.
After AU fired 14 shots in the final period, the home side convincingly won the shot battle, 24-12, as 14 were on goal. Carle led the way with seven shots on the day, while Zimmerman and Andres Lozano tallied four shots apiece. With the 24 shots, Anderson managed six corner kicks while holding Mount Olive without a corner kick on the day.
In the AU goal, Ashy picked up his second victory of his collegiate career, making three saves in the win. The Greenville, S.C. native recorded his first collegiate win a season ago at Mount Olive where he made a save in the convincing 5-1 victory.
Anderson returns to action on Saturday when it hits the road to Lincoln Memorial for a South Atlantic Conference matchup. Kickoff is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
