University of Massachusets Athletics
University of Massachusetts
Richmond (Atlantic 10 Championship Game)
Men's Soccer Captures A-10 Championship With Shootout Thriller
November 11, 2001 | Men's Soccer
Nov. 11, 2001
DAYTON, Ohio -- After 90 scoreless minutes of regulation time and 60 minutes of sudden-death overtime, senior John Lytton (Madison, Miss.) rocketed his shootout attempt into the back of the net to give the University of Massachusetts men's soccer team its first-ever Atlantic 10 Tournament Championship with a 4-3 shootout victory over Richmond. The Minutemen (14-5-1) receive an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament, the first in school history, with the win.
After the game finished in a tie following four 15-minute overtime periods, Richmond (12-6-2) and UMass faced off in the tournament's first championship game shootout since West Virginia downed UMass in 1992.
Cam Letke rocketed a shot to the upper right corner of the net to open the shootout and put UR up 1-0. Junior Jeff Deren (Chicopee, Mass.) answered with a shot past a diving Shawn Alexander to even the shootout score at 1-1. Senior Bryan O'Quinn (Feeding Hills, Mass.) then made a spectacular save on an Eric Dutt attempt to give UMass the advantage. After sophomore Ptah Myers (Columbus, Ohio) and Richmond's Bret Myers each converted on their attempts, Alexander made a diving stop on Derek Rhodes' (DePere, Wis.) shot to even the shootout at 2-2 after three rounds.
UR's Grant Dickens and junior Yuri Morales (Santa Cruz, Calif.) both netted shots to keep the match even going into the fifth and final round. Richmond's Bryon Waggoner then hit the bottom of the crossbar, with his shot setting the stage for Lytton's heroics.
Both O'Quinn and Alexander were spectacular throughout the contest, making brilliant saves to keep the score knotted at 0-0. For their efforts, both were named to the 2001 Atlantic 10 All-Tournament Team. O'Quinn posted a career-high 10 saves en route to his 15th career shutout, tying the school record set by Sam Ginzburg (1985-88).
"I've taken home that second-place trophy three times and I didn't want to do it again," head coach Sam Koch said. "I'm just extremely proud of all these guys and the way they have played all season. This game was an example of how hard they fought all year long."
Along with O'Quinn, Deren and senior J.R. Pouncey (Houston, Texas) were named to the all-tournament team. Pouncey, for his defensive leadership in the 150-minute shutout, was named the 2001 Atlantic 10 Tournament Most Outstanding Player.
The 2001 NCAA Division I Men's Soccer Championship bracket will be announced during a selection show that will air Monday, November 19, at 3:00 p.m. The broadcast will air live on various regional sports networks.
