WASHINGTON – Catholic University scored twice in the second overtime and the top-seeded Cardinals rallied for a 3-2 victory over the No. 4-seeded Rangers in a thrilling Landmark Conference semifinal matchup Thursday afternoon in the nation's capital.
 
Drew closes out the season with a 10-7-2 record while Catholic (11-6-2) moves on the conference final to face No. 2-seeded Lycoming, a 6-1 winner over No. 6 Goucher in the other semifinal.
 
In a nip-and-tuck affair, the Rangers led 1-0 at the end of the first half and 2-1 heading into the second overtime period after junior Kevin Kiernan scored with just 11 seconds left in the first OT. But the Cardinals pulled even with 7:48 left before scoring the game-winner with 4:14 showing.
 
The Rangers struck first, when sophomore defender Ryan Fischer headed in a corner kick from sophomore Gabe Di Pierro in the 16th minute, clearing the goalie with a shot into the upper-right corner of the net for his second goal of the season.
 
The Cardinals put the ball in the net midway through the half but offside was called. Catholic outshot Drew 8-4 in the opening stanza, but sophomore Brandon Jachera turned aside both of the Cardinals' shots on goal, including an impressive kick stop in the 22nd minute.
 
Catholic turned up the pressure in the second half, when it held an 11-6 shot advantage. The hosts tied it up in the 68th minute when Ryan Kelly scored on an unsettled situation, drilling a shot off the crossbar and into the side netting.
 
Just over a minute later, Jachera denied the Cardinals with a tremendous play to keep the score deadlocked at 1-1. Catholic put up a quick header in transition but Jachera made a leaping deflection on the right post for his final save of the game.
 
Each side took a pair of shots in regulation following Catholic's goal, but none were on frame, sending the game to bonus soccer.
 
Per NCAA rule changes starting in 2022, if teams are tied at the end of a regulation in the postseason, two 10-minute overtime periods are played. In previous years, a "golden goal" would end the match.
 
The first overtime period was largely a defensive battle, as the two sides combined for just three shots. It appeared as if neither side would score in the first extra session, but junior Tino Puentes intercepted a pass for Drew in the defensive third and the Rangers were able to put together one final push.
 
In the closing seconds, freshman Nate Keller delivered a cross from the left corner and found Kiernan alone in front of the keeper. Kiernan's header was initially deflected by goalie Owen Allegro, but he was unable to cover it up as it rolled just over the goal line before he swatted it away. The goal was Kiernan's team-leading ninth tally of the season.
 
The Cardinals wasted little time pulling even in the second OT. Catholic earned a corner two minutes into the period and cashed in when Michael Cafiero sent in a leaping header on a pass from Kelly.
 
The Rangers nearly struck back just a minute later, when junior defender Corey Bethel delivered a free kick that Fischer headed toward the left post. But Allegro made a diving stop to keep the match tied.
 
Catholic answered a minute later, scoring on a free kick of their own when Kelly sent a short pass into left side of the box, where Gordie Bernlohr slotted it into the far post for what held up as the game-winner.
 
The Rangers would not go quietly, however, firing off five shots over the last five minutes. But Allegro made three of his eight saves during the stretch, including back-to-back stops with just a minute left. He deflected a long blast from Di Pierro on the right post, then knocked away a rebound attempt from sophomore Ethan Steinbiss while lying on the ground. Drew took one last shot in the final minute, but Kiernan's header on a long pass from Di Pierro sailed high.
 
For the match, Catholic outshot the Rangers 22-18 while Drew held an 8-5 advantage in corner kicks.