MEADVILLE, Pa. - The Allegheny men's soccer team defeated Geneva with a golden goal by Eddie Opalko (Springdale, Pa./Pittsburgh Central Catholic) in the second overtime on Wednesday (Sept. 25). 

A throw-in from Dillon Thoma (Pittsburgh, Pa./North Allegheny) in the 102nd minute found the head of Owen Harkins (Sewickley, Pa./Quaker Valley) who pushed the ball to the other side of the box to a waiting Nicholas Taliani (Cheswick, Pa./Springdale). Taliani headed the ball towards goal but was denied by the post. Fortunately for the Gators, Opalko worked his way behind the defense and was waiting for the rebound, which he sent into the net for the game-winner.

This game marks the second straight home game in which a golden goal dictated the result, as Danny Reid (Old Lyme, Conn./Lyme-Old Lyme) netted the overtime decider against Carnegie Mellon last Monday.

In a game that saw 26 total shots, the Gators held the advantage with 15. 

Jorge Olan (Cranberry Township, Pa./Seneca Valley) led the offense with five shots, while Opalko took three of his own. Reid and Taliani were also multi-shot players with two each, while three other Gators tallied one.

Nick Ferreira (Chester, N.Y./Warwick Valley) served as Allegheny's keeper and made two saves in the win.

Allegheny plays host to No. 22 Kenyon on Saturday (Sept. 28) for its first North Coast Athletic Conference match of the year. Kickoff is set for 3:00 p.m.