LANCASTER, Pa.—Senior Evan Crocker (Akron, Ohio) slid through a cross from Tyler Modzeleski (Cazenovia, N.Y.) with just three minutes left in double overtime to shock Carnegie Mellon in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Gordon fell behind early in the second half, but rallied in the waning minutes to force extra time. The Scots worked their magic from there to take a 2-1 win in the opening round at Tylus Field on the campus of Franklin and Marshall.
 
Gordon (16-4) will stay in Lancaster with a quick turnaround against the host Diplomats, who dispatched NEWMAC champ Babson on Saturday, 5-1.
 
The first half was mostly quiet as both teams felt out the pace of the game. Carnegie Mellon held possession for much of the opening 20 minutes, but most of its opportunities came from too far away to pose much of a threat to Gordon keeper Josh Spoonhour (Greencastle, Pa.).
 
Gordon had a pair of good looks at the net in the middle of the first period, but both were knocked down by Tartan defenders.
 
Carnegie Mellon came out of the halftime break with an added oomph to its offensive strike, led by All-Region player William Webb. The talented striker continuously put pressure on Gordon's back line and forced them into a mistake in the 52^nd minute. A turnover in the back led to a Tartan corner and disaster struck for the Scots.
 
The initial corner got pushed back up field, but Tristan Lockwood (Fairport, N.Y.) sent a high bouncing ball into the 18-yard box. The Gordon defense mistimed a clear and Zack Masciopinto (Arlington Heights, Ill.) snuck a toe tapper just over the goal line before Gordon could clear it out.
 
The goal awoke Gordon's offense and the Fighting Scots looked in control for much of the final 30 minutes of the game. Still, open shots were hard to come by for Gordon, looking for its one big moment.
 
Not unfamiliar with their backs against the wall, Gordon tied the game in the 87^th minute on poke by key substitution Aaron Terjanian (West Chester, Pa.).  Caleb Cole (Coatesville, Pa.) offered the initial attempt off a corner, but the ball kicked around until Carnegie Mellon keeper Alec Lam (Upper Saddle, N.J.) punched it back from going in. Terjanian was there to clean up the deflection to keep Gordon's hopes alive.
 
Neither team went for much in the first overtime period, but play picked up early in the second. Carnegie Mellon threatened right away in double overtime, but Gordon survived the initial wave and countered back.
 
A well-executed play down the right side ended in the hands of Modzeleski. The freshman forward beat his man along the end line and sent a ball on the ground across the face of the goal. Crocker just beat his man and it went off the inside of the post and into the goal for the clincher.
 
The Fighting Scots advance to the NCAA second round for the second time in three years and will play Franklin and Marshall at 5 p.m. Sunday evening.