The Royals nearly pulled off an upset in the ODAC Quarterfinals Saturday afternoon, scoring early at top-seeded Roanoke.  But the Maroons got an equalizer late in the first half, and then got the game winner in the 74th minute, eliminating the eighth-seeded EMU soccer men from the ODAC Tournament by a final score of 2-1.

The game had a similar feel and identical scoring as the teams' regular season match in Harrisonburg.  Freshman Christian Rhine (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) scored just 8:56 into the contest, getting an assist from Adam Moyer (Harleysville, PA/Christopher Dock).

The goal was the highlight from an action-packed opening to the game.  The Maroons nearly scored in the fourth minute but put a shot off the post.  The two teams combined for seven shots in the first 12 minutes of play.

As the opponents settled into a flow, Roanoke, the ODAC's regular season champ, started to gain the upper hand.  After knocking another shot off the post in the 37th minute, the Maroons finally netted an equalizer less than three minutes before halftime.

Joao Downs (Limon, Costa Rica/Cologio de Limon) missed on a shot three minutes into the second half, but good looks got a lot scarcer for the Royals down the stretch.  Eastern Mennonite earned a corner in the 74th minute, but Roanoke sprung out on a counterattack, netting a goal to go ahead 2-1 with 16:14 left to play.

RC clamped down on defense and denied the Royals another shot attempt to give the men the exit.

Roanoke had a 19-6 advantage in shots, including 11-2 on goal.  Andrew Yoder (Harrisonburg, VA/Eastern Mennonite) made nine saves in the loss.

Rhine was the only Royal with two shots.  He scored his ninth goal of the season in the game.  Juan Flores (Mt. Jackson, VA/Stonewall Jackson) had the only other shot on goal.

The loss marked the final collegiate game for seniors Ryan Eshleman (Harrisonburg, VA/Harrisonburg), Ian Mast (Willow Street, PA/Lancaster Mennonite) and Sebastian Olguin (Harrisonburg, VA/Harrisonburg).

Eastern Mennonite ends the 2012 campaign with a record of 8-11-1 overall and 5-6 in the Old Dominion Athletic Conference.