ATLANTA – Sophomore defender Michael Vogt proved to be the final difference in a thrilling Southern Athletic Association Tournament Championship Sunday afternoon, which Centre claimed on penalty kicks over host and top-seed Oglethorpe.
 
Vogt's try dramatically escaped the grasp of Oglethorpe keeper Scott Zoino, and trickled over the goal line to seal the shootout after 110 minutes couldn't separate the two sides. The Colonels (14-4-2) would convert all five penalties to end Sunday's match, while the Stormy Petrels (13-2-1) managed three.
 
Centre secured its second SAA Tournament Championship in three years, having avenged a 2-1 loss to Oglethorpe when the teams met in the 2017 finale. By virtue, the Colonels claim the SAA's automatic bid into the NCAA Tournament.
 
Bailey Spade, Alexander Garuba and Jacob Haddad were named to the All-Tournament Team, with Spade garnering MVP honors.
 
REGULATION HIGHLIGHTS
- As he did Friday, Haddad got an early tally to open the scoring. He converted off an assist from Royce Pope to give Centre a 1-0 lead.
- The Colonels held the advantage until Oglethorpe's Bently Skinner scored with just 40 seconds left in the half, making it 1-1 at the break.
- Centre again took the lead in the 62nd minute when Garuba scored goal No. 19 for the season on a shot from the upper left side of the box.
- Oglethorpe had another answer, however, as Affonso Temporal netted a rebound goal in the 69th minute.
- After 20 total minutes of overtime action – in which both sides had chances to end the match – the two headed to PKs knotted at 2-2.
 
PENALTY KICK HIGHLIGHTS
- Nick Mazzarella began the shootout by converting, and Haddad, Garuba and Will Newton followed suit.
- Although Spade nearly came up with a diving save, the Colonels were gifted an advantage when Josh Bronstorph's fourth attempt went wide.
- With a 4-3 advantage, Vogt needed only to find the back of the net to seal the victory. Zoino got a piece of the ball, but wasn't able to keep it from crossing the goal line. 
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Centre and Oglethorpe were unsurprisingly even in the box score. In shots, the Stormy Petrels held a slight 21-20 advantage, but the Colonels earned a 5-2 edge in corner kick opportunities.
- Spade was strong in the title-clinching match, totaling 11 saves, including seven in the second half and three in the overtime periods.
- Garuba inched closer to the program's single-season scoring mark, sitting just two shy of Ryan Garvey's 21 markers in 2012. 
 
UP NEXT
Centre awaits its NCAA fate, which will be revealed Monday at 1:30 p.m. during the Selection Show. More information can be found here.