OWINGS MILLS, Md. – The Widener University men's soccer team squared off against the Muhlenberg Mules in the semifinal of the ECAC Championships on a cold, windy, and rainy Saturday night on the campus of Stevenson University. The Pride took #1 seed to overtime before falling 1-0 in the sixth minute of the extra period.

The teams traded possession across the opening 10 minutes. Nick Brison generated the first shot of the match, striking a low ball that was saved by the Muhlenberg keeper. The Mules worked the ball up field in the 13th minute, playing a through pass for a potential 1 v. 1 situation with John Warwick. The Pride goalie sprung quickly off his line, smothering the ball and preventing the breakaway opportunity.

A WU red card gave Muhlenberg a one-man advantage at the 16:37 mark.  

Warwick made a diving stop nearly three minutes later, keeping the match even at one. In the 26th minute, Muhlenberg earned a red card and both teams were down to 10 men, opening up the field. Shots increased but the squads went into the intermission knotted at zero.

The rain intensified during halftime, leading to less than ideal conditions for the second. Peter O'Connor ripped a low shot from outside of the 18 for the first scoring chance of the second half. Warwick kept up his stellar play after the break. Faced with a shot from point-blank range, the senior made a spectacular stop with his foot in the 48th minute.

The Mules were awarded a penalty kick in the 69th minute. For the second game in row, Warwick came up with a second half PK save, maintaining the scoreless draw.

Shea Morgan supplied the Pride's sixth shot of the night in 76th minute, nearly beating the opposing keeper in the bottom left corner.

The Pride defense stood strong for the rest of the half, forcing overtime as the rain continued fall in buckets.

In the 96th minute of the extra period, Muhlenberg won a free kick less than a yard outside of the Widener box. The Mules finished on the set piece, ending the game the season for Widener.

2019 Recap
In his first season with the Pride, Head Coach Ross Liberati secured the program's first postseason victory since 2015 when the Pride took down Brevard College on November 16. Nick Brison earned Second Team All-MAC Commonwealth Honors, consluding the year as the conference's fifth leading scorer. John Warwick was fourth in the conference in shutouts with three.