Considering the Grinnell men’s soccer team hadn’t won a Midwest Conference game this season and Lake Forest College had just lost one game overall in 2011, the odds may not have appeared to be in the Pioneers’ favor entering Saturday’s contest at Springer Field.
But the hosts didn’t let those facts faze them in the slightest, and the end result was a thrilling 2-1, last-second double-overtime victory over the Foresters.
Omeed Kashef ’14 (pictured) had both of Grinnell’s goals, including the game-winner with just 2 ticks left on the clock in the second overtime.
With about 10 seconds to go, Kashef gained possession of the ball from a Lake Forest player and went on a breakaway down the right side of the field. With 2 seconds left, he beat the pursuing defenders and the keeper with a shot into the left side of the net, sending the Pioneers and their fans into celebration.
Lake Forest had taken a 1-0 lead with a goal in the 21st minute, but Kashef answered not more than five minutes later. After the Foresters’ keeper punched the ball away on a cross, Kashef gained possession, took a high shot from the left side outside the 18 and scored.
Grinnell won the shots battle 10-6, with Joseph Brown ’15 taking four of those and Kashef three.
Grinnell keeper Greg Fox ’12 recorded two saves on the day as Grinnell moved to 1-2 in the league and 3-7-1 overall. Lake Forest fell to 1-2-1 in the MWC and 9-2-2 overall.
The Pioneers travel to Monmouth College for a MWC contest on Tuesday. Game time is 3 p.m.
