HANOVER, Ind.-- Nick Lang scored two goals, one late in regulation and one in overtime, to lead the Trine men's soccer team to a 2-1 OT victory at Hanover Wednesday afternoon.
Lang (Indianapolis, Ind./Cathedral) scored with just over five minutes remaining to tie the score and send the game to overtime, then sent the Thunder home victorious with the game-winner just minutes into the extra period. The senior has already set a new career-high with four goals in the first four matches of the season and has notched at least one point in every contest this year. Trine improved to 3-1, giving the team its best four-match start since 2011. Hanover fell to 1-3 overall.
The two teams battled to a scoreless draw over the first 79-plus minutes of action before the Panthers got on the board with 10:40 to play. Jason Kerrel picked up the goal from 16 yards out on the right side. Will Bridgeman and Zach Barnes were credited with assists.
Lang had the answer just 5:25 later as he ripped in a direct kick from 30 yards out. The goal knotted the score at one-apiece to send the match to overtime.
It didn't take Lang long to come up with another huge goal, as he scored just 2:22 into overtime to give the Thunder the victory. Passes from Ben Moricz (Valparaiso, Ind./Wheeler) and Zach Eckert (Waynesville, Ohio/Bishop Fenwick) set up Lang's game-winner from five yards out. Lang now has 10 points in the season's first four matches.
Trine outshot Hanover by a 19-11 margin. Ian Jindrich (Aurora, Ill./Metea Valley) made a career-high six saves in net to earn the victory for the Thunder. Rafael Dimaio made three saves for the Panthers.
Trine returns to action this Saturday and Sunday at Franklin College's Daniel Schuetz Community Classic. The Thunder will face Franklin Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m.