With Cincinnati coming into this game as the last place team facing the 1st place team Richmond, the result you would think would be evident. Not so. The Hawks played inspired soccer as they took on the Kickers.
It started early for the Hawks as J.T. Roberts got the ball and moved across the penalty area drawing the Kickers keeper out from goal. As soon as the opening developed, Roberts tucked it into the back of the net giving the Hawks a 1-0 advantage 2 minutes into the contest.
The Kickers then responded by a strong attack at goal forcing the Hawks goalkeeper Wanamaker to make a couple of excellent saves. The Hawks soon rebounded from the onslaught of shots and off of an assist by Descombes, Simon Lowey netted one home making it 2-0 in the 23rd minute.
Even though the Hawks were being outshot they were putting their shots to good use. The 1st half ended with the Hawks trailing in shots 9-4.
The 2nd half started with the Hawks coming out apparently not ready enough for Luzak who with plenty of time was able to slide one in past Wanamaker cutting the Hawks lead to 2-1 in the 48th minute. The Hawks being pressured at this point were allowing Richmond to work the ball around a bit and in the 53rd minute Rob Ukrop snuck another one in leveling the score at 2-2.
Now the Hawks feeling the pressure responded. 9 minutes later in the 64th minute Marcel Matis knocked home a goal giving the Hawks a 3-2 advantage. You could tell by the play on the pitch that this would not be the end of the scoring. In the 78th minute Burke scored again for the Kickers making the score 3-3.
Now, with both teams not wanting to go to overtime as lightning scorched across the sky in the distance each team made no delay in moving the ball up and down the pitch. Fouls were starting to be called now on both teams. With no team able to score in regulation the game did go to overtime.
During the 1st overtime both teams still raced up and down the pitch. The Hawks and Kickers showed everyone that they wanted a win in this match. With both teams failing to score in the allotted 10 minutes we went on to the 2nd overtime period.
Just after the kickoff, like a bolt of lightning from the sky, Jared Raferty let go of the shot that was heard throughout Galbreath Field. GOAL, CINCINNATI!! The Hawks had beat 1st place Richmond to end their season on a positive note!!
Final Score. Cincinnati 4 Richmond 3
LINEUPS
Cincinnati - 18-Wanamaker; 20-Pickup; 21-Mercik; 32-Samples; 28-Schulte; 11-Rockey; 7-Lowey; 4-Descombes ((26-Vaughn 59') (31-Raferty 100')); 9-Matis; 8-Roberts; 16-Kaszuba
Richmond - 1-McGinty; 7-Munthali; 24-Goodlett (4-Waugh 71'); 25-Luzak; 16-McKay (29-Byaruhanga 74'); 20-Ferruzzi (6-Ukrop 41'); 3-Knight; 11-Williams; 14-Henderson; 18-Kwaku (19-Burke); 10-Jeffrey
STATS
Cincinnati Richmond
1st half 2nd half OT Total 1st half 2nd half OT Total
Shots on goal 4 6 1 11 9 6 0 15
Saves 7 1 1 9 0 0 0 0
Corners 5 0 0 5 3 3 1 7
Fouls 4 1 4 9 4 3 2 9
Offsides 0 2 0 2 2 4 0 6
Cautions and Ejections
Richmond - Henderson 32'
Cincinnati - Matis 48'
Cincinnati - Pickup 55'
Cincinnati - Samples 71'
Richmond - Knight 75'
Cincinnati - Rockey 90'
Cincinnati - Pickup 101' (2nd yellow, ejected)
Goals
Cincinnati 2' - Roberts
Cincinnati 23' - Lowey
Richmond 48' - Luzak
Richmond 53' - Ukrop
Cincinnati 64' - Matis
Richmond 78' - Burke
Cincinnati 101' - Raferty
