COLUMBUS, Ohio - After battling to a 0-0 double-overtime tie, Lewis goalkeeper and Great Lakes Valley Conference Defensive Player of the Year, Alec Pickett rose to the occasion and made two saves in the shootout to help the No. 25 Flyers advance in the NCAA Division II Men's Soccer Tournament with a 4-3 win in penalty kicks against the No. 21 Greyhounds at Ohio Dominican's Panther Field on Friday afternoon.
The fifth-seeded Flyers (12-2-5) now advance to play the top-seeded Panthers at 1 p.m. ET on Sunday (Nov. 17) afternoon. Indianapolis ends the season with a record of 15-3-3.
It is the 12th shutout of the season for the Flyers and the ninth solo shutout of the campaign for Pickett. The shootout win comes nearly five years to the day of their last one, as Lewis defeated Rockhurst 4-1 in the first round of the NCAA tournament on Nov. 14, 2008 after also battling to a scoreless tie.
The Flyers jumped out to a 3-1 lead in the shootout following scores from junior midfielder George Thomson, freshman midfielder Alexandro Ayala and senior forward Cristhian Ramirez.
UIndy evened up the score at three when both Roger Lee and Ngwese Ebangwese beat Pickett and Flyer midfielder Ivan Surlina sent his attempt high.
Lewis midfielder Luke Comerouski put the Flyers ahead 4-3, as he sent his shot past UIndy keeper Andrew Verhonik.
UIndy's Reid Strain tried the keep the shootout going, but Pickett dove to his right and stonewalled the attempt to secure the PK victory for the Flyers.
Pickett made two saves on the afternoon, while Verhonik stopped four Flyer shots.
As a team, Lewis outshot UIndy, 10-9, including a 4-2 advantage in shots on goal.
The contest was Lewis' first since a first-round loss to Drury in the GLVC tournament on Nov. 3rd.
"I thought we were a little rusty with the layoff, but Indy is a great team and we are happy to move on," Lewis head men's soccer coach Evan Fiffles said. "Alec made two great saves in the PK's."
