Columbus, Ohio - Two second half goals cost the Stetson men's soccer team (2-1) a shot at a second straight Top 25 upset on Sunday as #23 Ohio State (2-1-1) slipped past the Hatters 4-2 in the finale of the Bert and Iris Wolstein Classic. Sophomores Raffaele Centofanti (Miami Lakes, Fla.) and JJ Bostic (Dunedin, Fla.) each scored their first career goals for Stetson.
Centofanti struck in the 31st minute off a pass from senior midfielder Gonzalo de Mujica (Buenos Aires, Argentina) to give the Hatters a 1-0 lead; eight minutes later, however, the Buckeyes drew level on Chris Hegngi's penalty kick goal.
Ohio State struck another big blow shortly before the half as Parnell Hegngi found tournament MVP Sebastian Rivas for the go-ahead goal in the 43rd minute. Shots (11-11) and saves (3-3) were dead even in the first 45 minutes for Stetson and OSU.
Bostic put the Hatters back into a 2-2 tie with a goal off another de Mujica assist in the 61st minute, but that triumph was shortlived as Ohio State's Ben Killian scored the game-winning goal just five minutes later. Parnell Hegngi, who assisted again on Killian's goal, was himself rewarded with an insurance score in the 85th minute off a pass from Austin McAnena.
Sophomore goalkeeper Andreas Schnabl (Blaichach, Germany) made three saves as the Hatters fell for the first time in 2011. Matt Lampson stopped seven Stetson shots to earn the win for Ohio State.
Bostic, Centofanti, de Mujica and Jonathan Mendoza (who scored two goals in Friday's win over #15 Penn State) were named to the All-Tournament Team for the Hatters.
The Hatters will spend next weekend in South Florida, visiting FIU at 8:30 pm Friday and Florida Atlantic at 2:00 pm Sunday. Live Stats, if available, will be linked to at GoHatters.com.
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