Men's Soccer 11/14/2021 3:57:00 PM

Panthers Falls to #19 NIU 2-1 in Double OT in MAC Championship Game

Box Score DEKALB, Ill. – No. 19 Northern Illinois scored with less than six minutes to play in double overtime to secure a 2-1 come-from-behind win over the Georgia State men's soccer team on Sunday afternoon in the MAC Championship Game.

No. 3 seed Georgia State (12-6-0, 3-3-0 MAC) was playing in a seventh-straight conference championship game, and after earning a pair of wins over Top 25 teams this year, will have to await a potential at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament when the field is announced on Monday. The Panthers are looking to return to the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 2018.

Top seed and host Northern Illinois (14-2-2, 4-0-2 MAC) topped the Panthers for a second time in three weeks in overtime by an identical 2-1 score as Nick Markanich scored in the 105^th minute on Sunday.

Georgia State got on the board first as junior Max Wilkins scored in the 22^nd minute as freshman Bryan Silva served a perfect ball into the box which Wilkins dove to head into the back of the net.

Miguel Maynez Jr., tied the game for the Huskies just six minutes into the second half sneaking a ball past Georgia State goalkeeper Gunther Rankenburg.

Ramon Munoz, Rankenburg, and Logan Luque were all named to the All-MAC Tournament Team.

Rankenburg, who also earned All-MAC First Team honors, finished the game with six saves while facing 22 shots.

MATCH NOTES

NIU improved to 2-0 all-time against Georgia State.
GSU entered the day as one of just 25 programs in the country to have reached 12 or more wins so far this season.
This marks the second time in three years and third time in five years the Panthers have won 12 matches. GSU didn't accomplish it last year but played just 13 matches due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
GSU is now 7-5-4 record in conference tournament play the last seven years.

WHAT'S NEXT

Georgia State will have to wait to see if they received an at large bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Selection Show is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Monday and can be seen live on NCAA.com.

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Players Mentioned

#23 Logan Luque: M; 5' 10"; Senior

#21 Ramon Munoz: D; 6' 2"; Junior

#1 Gunther Rankenburg: GK; 6' 3"; Junior

#9 Max Wilkins: F; 6' 2"; Junior

#14 Bryan Silva: MF; 5' 8"; Freshman

Players Mentioned

#23 Logan Luque
: 5' 10"; Senior
: M

#21 Ramon Munoz
: 6' 2"; Junior
: D

#1 Gunther Rankenburg
: 6' 3"; Junior
: GK

#9 Max Wilkins
: 6' 2"; Junior
: F

#14 Bryan Silva
: 5' 8"; Freshman
: MF