Georgetown goalkeeper Tomas Romero made the decisive penalty kick save to help the Hoyas defeat the University of Virginia in Sunday’s NCAA Tournament Championship Game, giving Georgetown its first NCAA title.
After both teams converted each of their first six penalty kicks, Romero stepped up to deny Virginia’s Axel Gunnarsson’s spot-kick attempt, diving to his right to make the title-winning save.
Georgetown has done it!
After 13 straight made penalty kicks, the Hoyas’ keeper shuts the door for the program’s first title ? pic.twitter.com/ahylhE0qCE
— ESPN (@espn) December 16, 2019
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The penalty shootout followed a wild regulation period that saw the teams finish tied 3-3, with Virginia forcing overtime with a Daryl Dike equalizer with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.
Derek Dodson looked like he would win it for Georgetown in regulation when he made it 3-2 Hoyas with less than 10 minutes remaining, but Dike’s equalizer forced an eventual goal-less overtime period.
Also, Dike should be an exciting prospect for any professional team. He is big, fast, and very good with the ball at his feet. I am not sure if his tactical awareness is there yet, but he clearly has the physical tools and skill necessary to succeed.
I thought either keeper could have ended it earlier simply by staying in the middle and reacting; more than a couple of the PKs were sent up the middle in anticipation of the keepers guessing. At least one likely would have bounced off a dummy setup in the middle of the goal. Those kicks taken towards the corners, save the last, were mostly unstoppable, except for one roller hit as the keeper guessed the wrong way. Guessing did not work very well!
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Still it was an exciting game played will some skill as well as the athleticism expected of college soccer. Unlimited subs helped Georgetown, I think that made it harder for Virginia than it would have been if the same players had been used for 90 minutes.
Exciting game