By Caleb Scott
The No. 8-ranked Ohio Northern men's soccer team fell in penalty kicks Saturday evening at John Carroll in the Ohio Athletic Conference Tournament Championship game.
The Polar Bears fall to 17-1-4 overall, while the Blue Streaks improve to 12-5-3 and clinch the Ohio Athletic Conference automatic bid to the NCAA III Tournament.
Seniors Nathan Libertowski (Medina/Medina) and Dustin Lorenzo (Sydney/Sydney) each scored to lead ONU.
The Polar Bears would fall in a 2-0 hole early on in the contest as JCU scored in the 14th and 25th minutes.
Northern would climb back into the contest in the 28th minute as Libertowski took a pass from senior Matt Kinkopf (Hamilton/Cincinnati Christian) and found the back of the net.
Lorenzo would score the equalizer in the 37th minute after scoring an unassisted goal and knotting the game at 2-2 just before the intermission.
After remaining tied at the end of regulation, ONU and JCU would use overtime to decide the winner.
The score would remain tied after two overtime periods, before John Carroll advanced in penalty kicks.
Junior goalkeeper Dean McNeil (Medina/Medina) posted a game-high nine saves to lead Northern defensively.
ONU will await the live selection show on Monday to see if they earn an at large bid to the NCAA III Tournament.
