Posted: May 15, 2010
Keating's goal came just 0:22 into extra time. After #Justin Tuma# won the opening face-off, #Alex Burkhead# secured the ground ball and fed back to Tuma. The junior midfielder then found Keating who deposited his fifth shot of the game past keeper John LeClerc for the deciding goal.
The Maroons, ranked fifth in the latest USILA poll, improve to 18-2 while the fourth-ranked Bullets fall to 15-3. The win for the Maroons, their ninth straight, marks a program and ODAC record 18, and also evens head-to-head series with Gettysburg at 5-5. Roanoke is 3-0 against the 2009 national finalists in NCAA postseason play with each victory decided by one goal (16-15 in 1992, 13-12 in 2006.). The win is also the first NCAA tournament road victory for RC since defeating Gettysburg in 2006.
The Maroons move on to face top-ranked Stevenson University in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, May 19. The Mustangs (18-1) defeated Cabrini College, 19-9, earlier on Saturday. Roanoke and Stevenson squared off during the regular season. SU got the best of RC on that day, winning 18-9.
For more information on the NCAA tournament, visit www.ncaa.com. Click HERE to view the interactive tournament bracket.
The Maroons won the ground ball competition with Gettysburg, securing 40 loose balls to the Bullets' 27. Face-offs proved a major tool for RC as it won 18-of-23 including 6-of-6 in the fourth quarter and overtime. Roanoke converted 1-of-4 extra-man opportunities while Gettysburg converted 3-of-6 chances.
Roanoke opened scoring against Gettysburg with four unanswered goals, including one in the first seven seconds of play by Keating off a feed from Tuma. The time of Keating's goal was just one second slower than the NCAA Division III record for quickest goal from the start of the game.
Tuma continued to rack up the points in the first period as he scored a pair of unassisted goals to put Roanoke ahead, 3-0, with 9:36 to go in the frame. #Matt Quinton# made it 4-0 Maroons via a pass from Keating.
Gettysburg responded with a run of its own, pulling back three consecutive scores that carried into the second quarter. Joe Brody got the Bullets on the board just 0:36 before Pat Sartory notched a man-up goal to close scoring in the first period. J.C. Ward pulled GC to within one with 13:49 remaining in the second quarter.
Keating snapped the Bullets string with his second tally of the day, this one coming from #Trey Keeley#. #Pat March# pushed the Maroons advantage back out to three at 6-3 with 7:50 to go in the half. Ward tallied his second goal to get one back for Gettysburg, but Quinton closed first half scoring with his second marker setup by Tuma.
Brody and Keating traded goals early goals in the third quarter, accounting for the 8-5 score line with 8:58 showing on the clock. Gettysburg pulled to within one with goals by Sartory and Andrew Ryan, leaving Roanoke ahead, 8-7, with 1:11 to play in the period. March returned RC's edge to two goals off an assist from Quinton, sending the two teams into the fourth quarter with Roanoke ahead, 9-7.
Gettysburg needed less than four minutes to tie the score for the first time as Sartory found the RC net twice to lock the game at 9-9 with 11:24 to play. Keeley responded quickly, restoring the Maroons advantage with 10:31 showing on the scoreboard. More than five minutes later, Danno Lynch knotted the game at 10-10. The final five minutes of the quarter passed without either team cracking the others back line, setting up Keating's overtime winner.
Keating and Tuma led Roanoke with five points each (4g 1a for Keating; 2g 3a for Tuma). Tuma also collected a game-high 10 ground balls and went 14-for-18 in face-offs. Quinton finished with three points on two goals and an assist. March's two goals accounted for each of his points, and Keeley registered a pair of points on a goal and a helper. #Ashton Hotchkiss# had one of seven Roanoke assists, which also marked the senior's 127th career point to move him into 23rd on the all-time scoring list.
Defensively, goalkeeper #Jake Dorsey# made nine saves, including three each in the first and fourth quarters. #Stephen Simmons# locked horns with All-American attack, Kyle McGrath, and held him scoreless throughout the contest.
