HILO, Hawai'i – Gudmundur Ingason scored his first two career goals to bookend a three-goal rally that ended with the game-winner headed across in the final minute to lift Hawai'i Hilo Men's Soccer to a 3-2 comeback victory over Jessup on Wednesday afternoon in Pacific West Conference play at the Vulcan Soccer Field.
With time ticking down, the Vulcans were perhaps on their last opportunity with a corner kick from the right side. Keita Goto's delivery found Kalen Toguchi, but his header attempt was knocked down by the Warriors goalkeeper and deflected right toward Ingason to head in from the right post for the go-ahead score with 30 seconds to go.
The sophomore had netted his first career score earlier in the afternoon with a leaping header to flush through a free-kick connection from Goto off a restart to put the Vulcans on the scoreboard at a 2-1 deficit.
Jessup had taken a two-score lead on the scoreboard with a goal in the 11th minute and a penalty kick conversion in the 59th minute.
Freshman Channing Oda put the final touch on the equalizer in the 70th minute for his first collegiate goal, kicking the ball across the line after Teun van Gansewinkel's header off a Toguchi long throw-in was deflected by the goalkeeper.
Redshirt junior Jose Carlos Ortiz made his first appearance as a Vulcan with the start in goal and collecting two saves for the win.
Despite Wednesday's result, Hawai'i Hilo is now eliminated from PacWest Championships postseason contention after Dominican had defeated Chaminade earlier in the day. Vulcans are tied for No. 7 in the conference standings with nine points.
Hawai'i Hilo will close the season on Monday, Oct. 26 against Dominican at the Vulcan Soccer Field for Senior Day.
GAME NOTES
- Total Shots: Hawai'i Hilo 18, Jessup 11
- Total Shots-On-Goal: Hawai'i Hilo 9, Jessup 4
- Total Corner Kicks: Hawai'i Hilo 13, Jessup 4
- Six games this season have featured a penalty-kick attempt: Hawai'i Hilo 1-2, Opponents 4-5
- Mateo Murillo made his first appearance as a Vulcan in getting the start.
- First Career Appearance: Tanner Fricke, Matias Myklebust
- First Career Start: Nolan Richards
- Hawai'i Hilo: 5-6-3 Overall (2-3-3 PacWest)
- Nickname: Vulcans
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 3
- Current Conference Standing: No. T7
- NPI Rank (Oct. 18): No. 132 (No. 36 Super Region 4)
- Jessup: 2-11-1 Overall (0-6-0 PacWest)
- Nickname: Warriors
- Rocklin, California
- Conference Preseason Poll: No. 10
- Current Conference Standing: No. 10
- NPI Rank (Oct. 18): No. 196 (No. 49 Super Region 4)
UP NEXT
- Monday, Oct. 26 (3 PM) vs Dominican (Vulcan Soccer Field)
VULCAN CHALLENGE
Hawai'i Hilo Athletics has launched its annual Vulcan Challenge, a month-long fundraising campaign running from Sept. 21 through Oct. 23 to support scholarships, travel, training and other essential resources for the Vulcans' 12 NCAA Division II teams. To support, visit HiloAthletics.com/VC.
PACWEST CHAMPIONSHIPS
The top four teams in the conference standings qualify for the PacWest Championships, hosted by Dominican on Nov. 5-7 in San Rafael, California. Eliminated from Contention: Chaminade (0-6-1), Hawai'i Hilo (2-3-3), Jessup (0-6-0).
Hawai'i Hilo finished as the runner-up at last year's PacWest Championships and was voted No. 3 in this year's PacWest Preseason Coaches Poll.
