November 6, 2007 | Box ScoreLamoni, IA- On a cold evening in Iowa, in front of a packed house, the atmosphere at the Razz Tuesday night was absolutely electric for the Region V semi-final game. The matchup pitted Graceland against rival Baker University of Baldwin City, Kansas. Graceland, coming off of a 3-0 victory in their final regular season game against the Wildcats, looked like they might roll right out of the Razz with an easy win. The game would be anything but easy for the Jackets. Graceland won the game in the first overtime 4-3 after trailing twice in the second half in what would prove to be the most thrilling game of the season. The Jackets would strike first at the midway point in the first half on a goal by junior Kevin Souter (Port Soy Scotland.) It looked like Graceland would take that lead into the locker room at halftime, but Baker, at the 44th minute, found the back of the net to tie the game 1-1 going into halftime. In the second half Baker struck first giving them a 2-1 lead and stunning the Jackets for the time being. The lead however, would be short lived in this see-saw battle. Graceland came back in the 74th minute to tie it on a goal by Orrin Branker (Point Fortin, Trinidad & Tobago) assist by Kevin Souter. In this crazy game, the tie didn’t even last another minute. The Wildcats struck right back within the 74th minute snatching the lead back from the 7th ranked and defending national champion Jackets. It now became nail-biting time as Graceland had to comeback for the second time in the half in order to have a chance. That’s why Graceland is the defending national champs. At the 86th minute mark Kevin Souter nailed a corner kick unassisted on an incredible individual play to tie the game. If the atmosphere was electric before at the The Razz, it was absolute pandemonium after the goal. Momentum completely swung back in Graceland’s direction and in overtime, the Jackets would score on a shot from Orrin Branker, his second goal of the game and the winner for the Jackets. “Champions find a way to win,” Coach Joseph said following the contest. “We had to come back from two second half deficits in order to pull this one off. We found a way though. Kevin Souter was amazing today and his play was the key reason we pulled this win off,” Coach Joseph concluded with. The Jackets will now have to find a way to play without Stefan Delas who was injured in the second half, and 1st team all HAAC players Kevin Souter and Brett Porter who will have to sit out Thursday due to yellowcard limits. Graceland will play this Thursday at 7:00, against the Benedictine Ravens, at the Razz in the Region V Championship game. For More Information on Graceland University Athletics Contact: Matt Shelton, Sports Information Director (641) 784-5318 mshelton@graceland.edu
