Des Moines, Iowa – The Central Arkansas men's soccer team took to the pitch at Cownie Soccer Complex for its match against the Drake Bulldogs on Saturday night knowing exactly what it needed to do: win the match and avoid the opening round match of the Missouri Valley Conference tournament a week and a half from now. The Bears did just that, rallying from a goal down and rebounding from a late equalizer to take down the Bulldogs 3-2 in overtime.

"What an absolute battle," said UCA head coach Ross Duncan following the match. "Drake gave us fits tonight. They played with a ton of intensity and made us work for every ball. I was really proud of the way we responded to their pressure though. We didn't get rattled and we found a way back into the game on multiple occasions."

Drake (5-10-1, 2-5-1 MVC) opened the night's scoring in the 19^th minute, when James Wypych played a cross to the far side of the box, where Steven Enna headed it home to the near post to give the Bulldogs the lead. Central Arkansas (6-7-2, 3-3-1 MVC) was able to generate shots in the first half, but got its best look in the final minute of the half, when a shot by freshman Niklas Brodacki was blocked out of bounds for a UCA corner kick. Sophomore Chris Holmes fired it into the box, where it found freshman Will Laufer, who fired a rocket, but Drake keeper Darrin MacLeod was able to make the save.

Central Arkansas came roaring out of the gates in the second half, controlling possession early and evening the match up in the 55^th minute. Sophomore Christian Ilia played a ball across the box to freshman Harris Partain, who slotted it into the corner of the net to knot the match at 1-1 with his first career goal. The Bears took the lead just three minutes later, as junior Pepe San Roman found an open Brodacki in the box. The MVC's scoring leader struck for the 12^th time this season, beating MacLeod to the far post to put the Bears on top. It appeared as though Central Arkansas would extend the lead even further in the 72^nd minute; as Ilia was able to beat MacLeod, but the Bulldogs got a team save to keep the lead at one goal.

"Coming out of halftime down a goal, we knew we needed to start fast," said Duncan. "We changed our tactics a bit and it was a complicated adjustment, but our guys took it right in stride and it paid immediate dividends. Harris' goal was fantastic and he's been working hard to get himself back into the team, so I was really happy for him. Brodacki's goal was the product of some excellent work from Pepe. He is just so deceptive on the ball had the Drake defenders chasing him through the box. Niklas has some work to finish it off though, and he was up to the task."

Drake was able to reset the game in the 74^th minute, when Adam Nicholson fed a pass to Nic Jaimes, who beat UCA keeper Marc Olsen to the far post to even the match at 2-2. In the 78^th minute it was the Bulldogs' turn to narrowly miss a third goal, as Eric Williams appeared to have a goal, but Laufer was able to knock it away for the team save.

The Bears threatened late in regulation, but shots from Ilia and sophomore Daltyn Knutson were unsuccessful, sending the match to overtime.

After some early pressure by Drake to open extra time, the Bears found the game-winner on the counter, as Brodacki played a ball forward to junior William Woody on the breakaway. Woody went far post for the golden goal, giving the Bears the 3-2 win.

"Woody and I spoke before the game, and I told him I wanted a counter-attacking goal from him like he scored the last time we were on this field in 2014. I can't believe that's how we ended up winning the game; unbelievable."

On the night, Central Arkansas was able to put seven of its 11 shots on goal, led by Partain, who was accurate with both of his attempts. Brodacki, Woody, Ilia, Holmes, and Laufer each put a single shot on frame. In goal, freshman Marc Olsen made eight saves to earn his sixth win of the season.

Central Arkansas closes out the regular season at 5:00 PM next Saturday, playing host to Missouri State. Prior to the match, the Bears will honor the career achievements of seniors Jordan Bates, Brandon Wilde, Dylan Brog, Kayiraba Toure, Wes Carson, and Alejandro Moquete.