MATTHEWS, NC (December 7, 2023) - For a second year in a row, Colorado State University Pueblo men's soccer will play in the National Championship match after defeating No. 5 Florida Tech 1-0 in double overtime at Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, NC.
 
Gabriel Campora's (Sr., Saltillo, Mexico) penalty goal in the 107' was the difference in the game.
 
Florida Tech finished the match ahead in shots by a 19-11 clip and led 5-4 in corners.
 
In the first half, the team's played to a scoreless tie with the ThunderWolves recording three shots led by Jack Pascoe and his two shots including one landing on frame. Campora recorded one shot on goal.
 
Florida Tech registered four shots and two landing on frame, matching the two SOG from the ThunderWolves.
 
The teams combined for 13 fouls in the first half and each team earned one corner.
 
The ThunderWolves' best scoring chance came off their one corner of the period when Caio Oliveira (Sr., Espigao d'Oeste, Brazil) sent in the ball and the ball was deflected and sailed high above the crossbar to keep the Pack off the board.
 
In the second half, Florida Tech came out of the locker room with aggression and quickly created a scoring chance that went high over the net and just a minute passed when the Panthers found possession again in ThunderWolves territory and created another scoring chance by Jacopo Ghezzi.
 
The Pack gained control ten minutes into the second half and the Pack forwards were unable to get a shot off.
 
The Panthers earned another free kick just 14 minutes into the second period and with thirty minutes left in the second half, CSU Pueblo changed its defensive scheme and caused a turnover on the Panthers.
 
The 2-seeded Panthers recorded back-to-back shots that the ThunderWolves were able to fight off and not allow any serious scoring threat in the sequence.
 
CSU Pueblo countered and earned a corner for themselves but resulted in no shot attempt.
 
In the 77^th minute, the Panthers took the ball deep into the Pack's final third of the pitch and strong defensive play kept them from earning a shot.
 
The Pack returned down field and went at the Panthers defense. Noe Ortiz Pena (Sr., Aurora, Colo.) drove into the box and flicked a pass to his left but was not able to find the feet of his teammate before Florida Tech gained the ball.
 
In the 81^st minute, Campora held the ball at the top of the box and tried to find Pena inside the box but was not able to get the ball to him before the Panthers caused a turnover.
 
Following a substitution for the ThunderWolves, CSU Pueblo earned a free kick with just over five minutes showing on the clock.
 
Reggie Nicolas (Sr., Palm Bay, Fla.) came on to the pitch and gave the ThunderWolves a much needed boost of energy. 
 
Oliveira fired a shot from 40-yards away from the net and went just wide right of the net.
 
CSU Pueblo had one last chance in regulation but the strong Panthers defense kicked it out of play as the buzzer sounded to send the game to overtime.
 
In the first of two 10-minute overtime periods, Florida Tech had the first good look at the net and strong defense inside the box from Alon Firdman (So., Barcelona, Spain) kept the Panthers from scoring.
 
On the ThunderWolves' next possession, they earned another corner but was defended enough by the Panthers to result in a goal kick.
 
With 1:27 left in the first overtime, CSU Pueblo caused a turnover at midfield and went on the attack for Ortiz Pena to fire a shot that caused the Panthers goalkeeper to fall to the ground and make the save.
 
The Panthers countered with a great look at the net with under a minute to play in overtime and were called offside despite the ball landing in the net.
 
After the play the clock sounded, ending the first overtime.
 
In the last and decisive period, Florida Tech started with the ball and took it into ThunderWolves territory, the offense was able to get past the ThunderWolves defense and caused the Pack keeper to come off his line and the Panthers were unable to capitalize.
 
With under six minutes left on the clock, the Panthers earned another corner kick and put the ThunderWolves on their heels but another strong defense play inside the box diffused the threat.
 
Ortiz Pena was passed the ball down the near side and was taken down while inside the box, resulting in a penalty kick being awarded to the ThunderWolves.
 
Campora stepped up and took the free penalty kick and hit inside the left post to put the Pack ahead 1-0 with 3:31 left in the second overtime.
 
After taking the 1-nil lead, CSU Pueblo's defense and play at midfield continued to be a pain in the side of the Panthers as they were not able to get a shot off over the final minutes.
 
At the net, Pack goalkeeper Ryan Nun (Fr., Broomfield, Colo.) made four saves against four shots on goal to help the ThunderWolves keep the clean sheet.
 
CSU Pueblo will look for their first NCAA Championship when they take on Franklin Pierce on Saturday at 2 p.m. (MT) at Matthews Sportsplex in Matthews, NC.