SPRINGFIELD, Ore. - The #2 seed Oregon Tech men's soccer team (16-1-2) trailed by two goals late in the second half but stormed back to tie the game and send it to overtime. After two scoreless overtimes, Tech advanced past third seed Southern Oregon (15-3-1) on penalty kicks 5-4 on Wednesday evening.
 
The victory for Oregon Tech sends them to the National Tournament after Warner Pacific defeated Corban on PK's earlier in the day. Tech and Warner Pacific will now be playing in the CCC title game on Friday. The 2^nd CCC auto bid goes to the Owls as the Knights picked up the CCC's first auto-berth by winning the regular season title. This marks the 1st time OIT Men's Soccer has ever qualified for the National Tournament.
 
Oregon Tech 2 (5) Southern Oregon 2 (4)
 
The first 67 minutes of the match were the toughest that Tech had to endure this season. The Hustlin' Owls found themselves down two goals, needing to reclaim all the momentum. With their backs against the wall, facing their biggest deficit of the season, the 19th-ranked Owls responded.
 
First, Tech earned a penalty kick by driving down the left flank and cutting into the 18-yard box before being sent to the turf.
 
Jake Mitchell (#24 pictured) would step up to the spot, and just a week after his crucial miss, Mitchell converted to get the Owls back into the match. With just 22 minutes remaining, Tech had a lifeline.
 
Throughout the next 21 and a half minutes, each side would see a handful of chances but it was Tech who left no doubt with 30 seconds remaining. The Owls would ping a ball into the box, and with the entire team pressing forward, Reilly Combs redirected the ball into the back of the net. The goal for Combs was his second of the season and likely the most important goal he has scored in his career to this date.
 
After the game, Mitchell said, "What a great team effort from the team today. Lots of guys stepping up and giving us big performances when we needed it most. We will try to carry this momentum into the finals to win another trophy this season."
 
Tech would see the final 30 seconds out, before heading to two ten-minute overtime periods.
 
In the overtime periods, Tech was outshot by SOU 7-2, but defended the 2-2 tie to send the game into penalty kicks.
 
Regulation would finish with Tech outshooting the Raiders 23-19, but the Raiders recorded more shots on frame (6-7).
 
In PKs, the Raiders missed the first, and that proved to be enough as Tech converted on all five spot kicks to advance 5-4.
 
Andrew Pasang was credited with the winning kick, as Tech's 5th penalty taker coolly delivered from the spot. Also scoring in the shootout was Mitchell, Gavin Wilmott, Anthony Santillan, and Combs.
 
With Warner-Pacific winning the second semifinal 8-7 in penalty kicks over Corban, Tech automatically advances to the NAIA National Tournament. Since WP clinched the first auto-bid from winning the regular-season tie-breaker, the second-bid is awarded to the winner of the conference tournament.
 
Tech will face off against #1 (R.V.) Warner-Pacific (16-3-1) on Friday to "break the tie" in the Conference Championship match.
 
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