JOHNSON, Vt. – Johnson State's Ryan Demars (Morrisville, Vt./Peoples Academy) maneuvered up the middle of the field and beat the final College of Saint Joseph (Vt.) defender at the top of the penalty box and deposited the game-winning goal with 3:27 left in the first overtime lifting the Badgers to a 2-1 non-conference men's soccer victory Tuesday at Minaert Field. JSC improves to 4-4-1 overall, 1-1 North Atlantic Conference (NAC). The Saints slip to 1-6 overall.
CSJ struck first when goalkeeper Devin Bailey (Schenectady, N.Y.) sent a free kick from just over midfield towards the Johnson goal. The ball bounced and bounded over Johnson keeper Patrick Fuller (Stowe, Vt./Stowe) with game's first goal with just 2:50 remaining in the first half.
Johnson would knot the score at 1-1 when Ryan Joy (North Montpelier, Vt./U-32) converted a penalty kick in matches 58th minute following the take down of a Johnson forward Randall Strand (Flanders, N.J./Roxbury) in the box.
The game would go to overtime when Demars took possession of the ball near the midfield circle and created the golden goal. Getting the past the final Saints defender, Demars had just Bailey to beat and did so but tucking the shot just inside the left post.
Johnson's Ryan Belen (Northvale, N.J./Northern Valley) would relieve Fuller and play the second half and overtime earning the winning decision and making three saves. Fuller recorded four stops in the first half. CSJ's Bailey had a strong effort making nine stops in addition to the goal.
The Badgers return to NAC play in their next contest on Saturday, October 1 at 1:00 pm playing at Husson University while St. Joe's heads home to host the University of Maine-Fort Kent on Friday, September 30 at 4:00 pm.