UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio – Centre men's soccer won the program's third NCAA Tournament match in program history Saturday evening, defeating Kalamazoo, 1-0, under frigid conditions at John Carroll University.
 
The Colonels – who entered the postseason ranked No. 21 in the D3soccer.com Top 25 – improve to 17-3-1 overall with the victory, marking their highest number of wins since 1995. The Hornets end their season 11-5-2 overall.
 
Centre was without a pair of regulars in goalie Tate Johnson and center back Michael Vogt, lifting Haydon Korfhage and Max Gordinier into starting roles.  
 
HIGHLIGHTS
- Shots favored Centre by a slim 7-5 margin in the opening half, but it was a save by Korfhage that proved to be the highlight of the period.
- In the 52nd minute, Nafiz Budeiri weaved past a Kalamazoo defender and let loose a shot from 30 yards out, hammering the back of the net to finally break the stalemate. It was the sophomore's sixth goal of the season.
- The match seemed to open up from that point, with both sides creating scoring chances. Korfhage came up with three saves to help preserve the one-goal advantage.
- In the 89th minute, the Colonel faithful held their breath as a shot from Kalamazoo's Ben Meschke hit the crossbar. A clearance from Carson Hart averted further danger, but set up a last-minute corner opportunity for the Hornets.
- The attempt was handled without incident, and Centre was able to hang on for the historic victory.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Making his second career start, Korfhage recorded four saves in a shutout.
- Kalamazoo held a minor 12-11 advantage in shots, but had a 7-0 edge in corner kick opportunities. Alexander Garuba put two of his team-high five shots on target.
 
UP NEXT
Centre meets host John Carroll Sunday at 3 p.m. inside Don Shula Stadium. The Blue Streaks (18-2-2) are ranked in the top 10 in both major national polls, and defeated Washington & Jefferson by a 2-0 score in Saturday's opening round match.