NORTH MANCHESTER, Ind. - The Spartans advanced to the Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference (HCAC) Tournament Finals after a penalty kick win against the no. 4 seeded Pioneers of Transylvania University on Wednesday, November 1. 

The Pioneers took an early 1-0 lead following a goal by Dylan Barnes in the 3rd minute to start Wednesday night's match. Kole Williams (Lafayette, Ind., McCutcheon) put the Black and Gold on the scoreboard in the 43rd minute off a long ball from Noah Black (Swayzee, Ind., Mississinewa). 

The Spartans applied pressure on both ends of the field during the second half, but both teams were unable to find the back of the net again, sending the game into overtime. 

Cory Mitchell (Maitland, Fla., Winter Park) netted his 13th goal of the season in the 93rd minute to give Manchester the 2-1 lead. Chris Gerken (Huntertown, Ind., Carroll) assisted on the Spartans' second goal of the evening. Henry Roetker found the back of the net for Transylvania in the 102nd minute to level the score at 2-2 and it would head to a penalty shootout to determine a winner.

Tanner Collins (Auburn, Ind., DeKalb) made the opening shot for Manchester. Transylvania would knot it back up at 1-1. 

After penalty kick goals by Julian Keough (Indianapolis, Ind., Pike), Maruwe Exauce (Indianapolis, Ind., North Central), and Harley Kruschwitz (North Manchester, Ind., Manchester), Manchester's goalkeeper Aaron Ketchmark (Kouts, Ind., Kouts) would make a great save to put the Black and Gold up 4-3.

Noah Black (Swayzee, Ind., Mississinewa) approached the box and placed a shot in the upper right corner, just outside the outstretched hands of Nolan Yanz for the 5-3 penalty kick victory.

With the win, no. 1 Manchester advances to the 2023 HCAC Men's Soccer Championship game. They will host no. 3 Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology for a 7:00 p.m. kickoff at Spartan Stadium on Saturday, November 4.