Sept. 3, 2000

WVWC DEFEATS NKU IN OVERTIME

15th-ranked West Virginia Wesleyan rallies for 6-5 victory

WILDER, Ky. - Jonathan Atkinson scored three goals - including the game-winner in overtime - Sunday as West Virginia Wesleyan College defeated the Northern Kentucky University men’s soccer team, 6-5 in overtime, at the Town & Country Sports Complex.

Atkinson’s winning shot came at the 91:50 mark off an assist from Jared Cummings. The goal capped a WVWC rally that enabled the Bobcats to erase a 5-3 NKU lead with less than 25 minutes remaining in regulation.

WVWC (2-0), which is ranked No. 15 nationally in the Division II poll, trailed 5-3 after a goal by NKU’s Stephen Hahn off an assist from Mohamed Janah at the 64:05 mark.

Greg Bennett scored an unassisted goal for WVWC at the 66:17 mark, and Atkinson tied the match at 5-5 with five minutes left in regulation. Atkinson found the net just one minute and 50 seconds into overtime off a pass from Cummings.

NKU (0-4) jumped out to a 2-0 lead early in the first half as Aaron Pitzer and Janah both scored goals. The Norse held a 4-3 halftime lead after a score by Eric Hiltenbeitel at the 42:26 mark.

WVWC 6, NKU 5 (OT)

GOALS: WVWC-Atkinson 3, Bennett, Caler, Cummings. NKU-Hahn 2, Janah, Hiltenbeitel, Pitzer. RECORDS: WVWC 2-0, NKU 0-4.