Box l Updated Stats
HOBOKEN, NJ – Sage's River Seybolt forced overtime after scoring the game-tying goal with 1:56 remaining in regulation, before scoring the game-winner in the first overtime with :27 seconds to play, lifting the third-seeded Gators to a 2-1 win over second-seeded Nazareth Friday in the Empire 8 Conference semifinals. 

The young Nazareth squad finishes the 2017 season 10-6-1 overall, while Sage moves on to the Empire 8 Championship on Saturday at 6 p.m. with a 10-5-2 record.

Josh Crespo and Justin Pumputis were named to the Empire 8 All-Tournament Team.

In a half where Sage continually generated offensive pressure, Seybolt found the equalizer with 1:56 remaining after a deflected shot landed at his feet in the box and he blasted it into the side netting. 

Nazareth nearly ended the game in the 99^th minute, as Serkan Ozay had a shot saved off the line by a Sage defender. Two minutes later, Seybolt had a corner kick fall at his feet, allowing him to score the game-winning goal in front of heavy traffic.

It was a fairly even first half, with Sage outshooting Nazareth 13-11.

Nazareth and Sage traded quality chances in the opening 20 minutes.  The Gators' Seybolt pushed a shot wide of the net in the 15^th minute.

Freshman Matt Gasbarre ripped an opportunity from outside the box in the 20^th minute wide of the far post.

Nazareth opened the scoring as Mitchell Fors set up Crespo's seventh goal of the season.  Fors back-heeled a through ball that Crespo controlled outside the box and rocketed a shot inside the far post for a 1-0 lead.

The second half saw the level of play go up a notch, with the Gators generating strong offensive pressure. 

Four minutes into the second, central defender Pumputis came up with a block on Seybolt from 8 yards out to keep a blank slate. 

A minute later, the Gators were at it again, this time off a set piece.  Derlis Zayas got a touch in close that was pushed aside by Nazareth keeper Josh McNutt before a shot was put wide in front of an open goal.

Shortly after, Nazareth pressured on a counter attack, with Crespo threading a pass through two defenders.  With the goalie coming out to cut down the angle, Fors drove a shot that was saved back into play.

The Gators continued to pressure and in the 55^th minute, with Nazareth clearing a shot off the line to keep it 1-0.

Nazareth nearly had an important insurance goal with 14 minutes to play, however, it was cleared off the line.

McNutt made nine saves in net for Nazareth.