Cavaliers get the must-win they needed versus Allen County
Injured Michael Shadfar, comes off bench late, nets game winner with two minutes left in regulation
Michael Shadfar, freshman midfielder, cruises by a couple Allen County defenders to score the game winning shot on Oct. 23. Photo by Eric Halleran.
The Cavaliers won a hard fought, chippy battle against Allen County on Thursday night.
The teams played scoreless ball until the 32nd minute when Austin Knipp, sophomore midfielder, netted the games first goal.
The score stood at 1-0 at the half. In the second half, Allen County busted out of the gate as Lehi Ortega, freshman, scored the equalizer at the 48th minute.
Ten minutes later, Oumar Seck, sophomore defender, broke the tie with a penalty kick at the 58th minute.
But just a few minutes later Allen County tied it back up with a penalty kick of their own by Josh Gabbert, freshman at the 64th minute.
It appeared the game was headed for an extra session, but Michael Shadfar, freshman midfielder had other plans.
Shadfar, who injured his groin and didn't start the game, sat on the bench for most of the game.
Fatai Ayaode, head coach said he wasn't going to play Shadfar.
"He was sitting on the bench, going 'coach I can go kick it in the goal'," Ayaode said.
Shadfar did just that netting the game winner with just two minutes left to go in regulation and impending darkness falling on the Overland Park sky.
"I just felt like I could help out a little bit," Shadfar said. "I was lucky, one of my teammates stepped in and the ball came right to me, I saw the opening and I was like I might as well hit it."
With that goal the Cavaliers remain alive in the conference and will play Allen County again Tuesday for a playoff to determine the champion.
Ayaode said it was a good win for the Cavaliers.
"It was an intense game, we did what we came out to do, we put the ball in the net," he said.
Shadfar, who said he felt about 75 percent while sprinting out on the field tonight, isn't sure if he's able to go full boar in Tuesday's playoff.
The game became a must win after the Cavaliers were forced to forfeit Monday's win against Cloud County due to an ineligible player.
"I won't name names," Ayaode said. "The problem was a counselor that did the transition, didn't know the rules. You have to be in 12 credit hours. So he dropped him and enrolled him in a class that doesn't start until Nov. 4. I found that out, I was like, oh that's not good."
If Thursday afternoon was any indication, Tuesday's game should be a good one. Game time is yet to be determined.