Sunesson Nets Game-Winner in Overtime

MILWAUKEE - The No. 21 Marquette men's soccer team took down Butler with a 1-0 overtime win on Saturday afternoon at Valley Fields.

Junior Lukas Sunesson scored the golden goal in the 94th minute of play off a penalty kick, an opportunity that was earned when freshman striker Beto Soto was taken down in the box. The win gives Marquette (8-1-1, 5-1-1 BIG EAST) its school-record sixth overtime win of the season and second of the week. On Wednesday, Alex Mirsberger headed in the game-winning goal against DePaul in overtime.

Today's victory also means the Golden Eagles have clinched one of two spots in the Midwest Division to represent the side in the BIG EAST tournament, which begins on April 14. Only the top two teams from the East and Midwest Divisions will play in the league tournament.

In the first half today, MU started out the game on attack, forcing a turnover after the opening kick-off and racing the other way for a scoring chance. A.J. Franklin, who was making his second start of the season, laced a left-footed strike towards the lower left corner of the net that had to be saved by Butler keeper Gabriel Gjergji. Franklin also had a header try sail wide on the ensuing corner kick. Lukas Sunesson had a pair of shots and Sam Thornton registered one as well in a scoreless first half that saw MU outshoot Butler 5-3.

The second-half followed suit with more scoreless play, but both teams had opportunities to get on the board. Redshirt sophomore keeper Chandler Hallwood came up big again, saving a pair of Butler shots in the second half. Soto and Mirsberger each recorded two shots in the final 45 minutes of play while Sunesson had a header attempt saved late in the game that would have put MU in front in regulation.

As a result, for the eighth time in 10 games this season, MU headed to overtime. Neither team could get anything going in the first couple minutes of the extra period until Soto made a run to the net and was tripped up. A foul on BU defender Griffin DeBolt allowed MU the opportunity to score the game-winning goal off a penalty kick. Sunesson scored the golden goal on rocket into the lower left corner of the net, a shot that Gjergji got a piece of but couldn't track down. The goal was Sunesson's team-leading sixth of the season and 14th of his career.

GOLDEN EAGLES WITH THE WIN!

Lukas Sunesson knocks in the GOLDEN GOAL with a penalty kick in the 93rd minute!#WeAreMarquette | #MarquetteSoccer pic.twitter.com/81QAnDNurG
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) March 27, 2021

Redshirt sophomore goalkeeper Chandler Hallwood (7-1-1) saved three shots for the Golden Eagles.

UP NEXT:
Marquette completes its regular season on Saturday, April 10 at noon Central time at Xavier.

.@Loobe21 reacts to his team's pivotal overtime victory today at Valley Fields to clinch a postseason berth.#WeAreMarquette | #MarquetteSoccer pic.twitter.com/lwIrlUMcwo
— Marquette Soccer (@marquettesoccer) March 27, 2021

Keep up with the Marquette University men's soccer team through social media by following on Twitter (@MarquetteSoccer) and Instagram (@MarquetteSoccer) and 'liking' on Facebook (/Marquettesoccer).