(WILMINGTON, Ohio) - The Quakers defeated the Comets 3-2 in penalty kicks after a 1-1 draw in the OAC Quarterfinals on Tuesday night. 

Wilmington's offense came out firing to start the match. Jordan Domoe, Jace Houck, and Kaden Young each took shots in the first five minutes. Capital responded right away with two straight shots of their own, but neither team found the back of the net. Each team eased into the half and began to slow the play down.  

The Quakers shifted into an attacking focus late in the half. Shots from Alen Salihbegovic, James Comstock, and Houck tested the Comets' defense but still Wilmington failed to score. The first half ended with each team receiving a yellow card, heading into the break tied 0-0.  

Capital came out on the attack to open the second half. Judah Hanks made two straight saves in the 54th and 55th minute to prevent a Comets' goal. Domoe countered for Wilmington, but his chance was saved as well. The Quakers' offense progressively began to take control and in the 74th minute Young tapped Tannar Beermann into the box and Beermann slipped it past the Comets' goalie.  

Leading 1-0, Wilmington's offense kept pressuring Capital. Aidan Barnishin had a chance from outside the box that just hit the top of the woodwork. With just two minutes remaining, the Comets equalized with a well-played ball in the box to tie the game 1-1 to push the match to golden-goal overtime. 

Wilmington's attack continued to threaten the Capital backline in the first overtime period. The Quakers had five shots and controlled the period. Domoe had a chance saved in the 98th minute, and Houck's attempt was corralled in the 99th minute.  

The Comets countered and took control of the second overtime period. Erik Axelsson, who replaced Judah Hanks in net, made a tough save in the 103rd minute. The freshmen goalie made another save in the 106th minute to thwart Capital. Wilmington's first and only shot in the second overtime period came from Domoe in the 109th minute, but his chance was off target, and the two sides went to penalty shootout.  

Capital took the first penalty shot, but Axelsson dove left and saved the attempt. Kaden Young stepped up to the marker for Wilmington and he nailed his first shot to go ahead 1-0. Axelsson dove to the right and again saved the Comets' penalty shot. The junior Aidan Barnishin took the Quakers' next penalty shot and drove it back into the net. Up 2-0, Capital barely beat Axelsson's dive to cut the score to 2-1. Eli Eyrich took Wilmington's third shot and drilled it past the Comets' goalie to put the Quakers up 3-1. 

The Comets scored their fourth attempt to trail 3-2. The Quakers' next shot by Brayden Spencer hit off the crossbar, giving Capital a chance to tie it on their next attempt. With the game on the line, the Comets' attempt went way over the goal, and Wilmington defeated Capital 3-2 in the penalty shootout. 
 

Notables 

• Tannar Beermann scored his second goal of the season.  

• Kaden Young recorded his seventh assist of the year. He took three shots with one on target. 

• Erik Axelsson made two saves during the penalty shootout.  

• Judah Hanks had four saves in regulation. 

• Jace Houck had three shots with one on goal. 

• Jordan Domoe took four shots with two on target. 

• Wilmington outshot Capital 18-13.  

• The Quakers last participated in a penalty shootout in 2020 against Marietta College. Wilmington's last penalty shootout victory was versus John Carroll University in 2000.  

What's Up Next 

Wilmington will travel to take on the 2nd seed Otterbein University Cardinals on Thursday, November 6th, at 7:00 P.M. in the OAC Semifinals.