WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. – There are only a handful of programs that are privileged enough to close out their seasons with a win. This is the harsh reality that befalls collegiate athletes season after season yet, the shock of that moment is never easy to absorb. This is the shock that the Jacksonville University men's soccer program (7-4-2) must deal with following a dramatic comeback to force overtime with American (4-1-3), only to settle for a 3-3 tie before seeing its dream season brought to a close on penalty kicks, 5-4, in the First Round of the NCAA Tournament.

The Dolphins trailed American 2-0 and 3-1 in the game and with less than 10 minutes to play in regulation, staged a comeback for the ages, scoring twice in less than three minutes to force overtime. The overtime periods favored Jacksonville heavily as it generated chance after chance, but it was not to be. The match goes into the record books officially as a draw but that will do little to quell the pain felt by the Dolphins following a 5-4 defeat in penalty kicks, granting American the opportunity to square off with the top seed in the tournament, Clemson, on Sunday afternoon.

Olivier Correa, Reggie Nicolas and Joshua Moreira, respectively, score the trio of goals. Moreira added an assist as did Cao Chaves who secured his team-leading seventh helper, all of which came over the last five games. Reed Davis contributed two assists and four shots, the most notable being his last when he rattled the top woodwork in the 110th minute. An inch lower, and the Jacksonville Dolphins are moving on. Correa's goal gave him six for the season and 14 points, total. He is officially the first freshman since 2015 to lead the ASUN in both goals and points.

It did not take long for American to jump on the board in this one. The Eagles scored at the 22-minute mark on a brilliantly executed sequence that caught the Dolphins out of position. The difference in the score carried to the break despite Jacksonville holding an advantage in total possession.

American caught the Dolphins out of position again in the 52nd minute to move ahead 2-0 but Olivier Correa had seen enough. Moreira served across the goal mouth to Chaves on left side who slid a pass to Correa out front. Correa converted to cut the American lead in half in the 59th minute.

Less than three minutes later however, American cashed in what at the time felt like a backbreaker for JU. Chaves drew a yellow card in front of the American bench, setting up a set piece for the opposition. Jack Green fired a shot that some of the best goalkeepers in the world would have had trouble with, beating Matt Levy to push the Eagles ahead 3-1 with just shy of 30 minutes to play in regulation.

As the clock ticked inside 20 minutes to play, the Dolphins began to exert their will on the American defense. Correa nearly added a second score on mis-timed header. Jose Manzo blasted a one-time try off a beautiful cross that missed its mark and Correa fired twice more before his teammate, Reggie Nicolas, broke through. Nicolas had not played since the regular season finale opposite North Florida on Apr. 3. Reggie poked a pass through the middle to Davis who was standing near the penalty kick line. Davis served a pass off the wall to Nicolas who ran through it and ripped a laser passed the AU keeper to pull his team within one, 3-2, in the 82nd minute.

Just shy of three minutes later, Moreira and Davis executed a nearly identical play. Chaves served Moreira at the top of the box; Moreira poked a pass on to Davis who once again served off the wall back to Josh who buried his chance to tie the game. With just five and a half minutes to play in regulation, the Dolphins now had all of the momentum. One last legitimate chance for JU to score was wiped away by an offside call as we turned out eyes to overtime.

Correa had two point-blank opportunities turned aside in the first overtime then it was Jake Duncan-Smith, Davis and Nil Ringstrand who created chances in the second overtime. Davis had perhaps the best look and rattled the cross bar in the final minute, leaving this one to be decided by penalty kicks.

Each team buried its first three tries before Jacksonville blinked. Cao Chaves rang his attempt off the top woodwork leaving the door open for American. The Eagles bagged all five of their tries against Jacksonville's four makes to earn the right to move on. Matt Levy put forth a valiant effort in goal during the penalty kick segment. He guessed correctly multiple times but simply fell victim to quality placement.  

The incredible 2021 spring season comes to a close for the ASUN Champions. Head Coach Mauricio Ruiz guided his program, in his seventh year, to its first NCAA Tournament since 2008 and third overall. The program remains unbeaten in the first round of the NCAA Tournament, now holding a record of 2-2-1 all-time in the big dance. The Dolphins only have two seniors to speak of, ASUN Tournament MVP Connar Lufkin and Jose Manzo. Both of whom can return if they so choose. There were a total of 12 freshman or sophomores on the pitch for the Dolphins on Thursday night. The first is bright for Jacksonville men's soccer and it will have the opportunity to hoist two trophies in a calendar year when the fall season kicks off in August.