The Cougars started the match strong and had control of the play from the start, knocking the ball around and keeping possession deep in the Hawks end of the field. But, the speed of play was a little too slow and Prairie’s solid defensive line was able to handle the Cougars’ attack. The Hawks were playing a defensive game and relying on the counter-attack to generate offense, and it did in the 24th minute. Kennedy’s defense, the second stingiest in the MVC giving up only 5 goals in 13 games and had not given up a goal in 702 minutes of play, had a miscommunication in the back and allowed a ball to get over the top with no cover behind junior Nick Seedorff. Seedorff almost recovered and senior goalkeeper Tyler Sievertsen almost came out fast enough, but the Prairie forward got a foot to the ball and flicked it past Sievertsen into the goal, giving the Hawks the lead, 1-0.
The half finished out with Kennedy attacking the Prairie goal, but not getting many good scoring opportunities.
In the second half the Cougars picked up the intensity of their play and began to completely dominate the match. Prairie began to find it difficult to even get out of its own end and Kennedy started to generate some offensive chances. Still, a few close misses found the Hawks with the lead and the game clock winding down.
Finally, with slightly more than 12 minutes remaining the Cougars finally struck. After a throw-in, the ball was swung wide to senior Eric Caldwell. Caldwell made and attacking run and combined on a one-two with senior Reid Galbraith. Caldwell’s pass, intended for junior Erik Boyer was knocked away, but it fell to senior Pat Montag. Montag the hero of Tuesday’s victory over Cedar Rapids Washington, played a ball through to junior Phil Vermie. Vermie, cut the ball to his left and fired a ferocious shot high to the back post that beat the Prairie goalkeeper, tying the game at 1-1.
The remainder of the half and the two overtime periods had Kennedy on the attack and with most of the possession and the few chances that were generated. The game inevitably would be decided by penalty kicks – a Kennedy specialty.
In the penalty kick tie-breaker it was time for freshman penalty kick specialist Ben Feltes and he did not disappoint. After Boyer slotted home his penalty, Feltes made a fantastic diving stop to his left to give Kennedy the lead. Seedorff nailed his penalty and Prairie’s second kicker made his kick. Then Vermie slammed home his kick to give the Cougars a two goal lead. Then once again it was Feltes who made another stop to keep the two kick advantage. Then freshman Riley Galbraith put his kick away and Kennedy could finally celebrate its title, beating Prairie 2-1, 4-1 on penalties.
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