Schenectady, N.Y. - Late drama in regular time was followed by a penalty shootout, where the Clarkson University Men's Soccer team dropped a 1-1 Liberty League playoff tie, 5-4 on penalties, Tuesday evening at Union College. 

The loss brings the 2025 campaign to a close for the Golden Knights with the team finishing at 7-5-5 overall. Union will advance to take on #1 seed Hobart, Friday afternoon in Geneva. 

Union mustered the first real chance of the game in the 12th minute following a free kick from the halfway line. The floated ball forward reached a Garnet Charger attacker on the left side of the penalty box but the ensuing half-volley attempt was sent high across the face of goal and out of play. Just two minutes later in the 14th minute the hosts would come close again following another free kick inside the Clarkson defensive third. The cross in from the right wing found the head of a Garnet Charger attacker who managed to head it into a crowd in front of goal. After a few deflections within the six yard box the ball was finally cleared allowing the Golden Knight defense to reset. 

Clarkson was credited with the first shot attempt of the game at the 25th minute mark. Breaking into the Union defensive third, the ball was swung out to Josh Baraka on the right wing who played a cross into the middle of the 18 yard box. The floated ball fell right to the head of Zach Ruthfield who did well to direct it towards goal but just a bit off target as the ball skirted past the left post and out of play. 

Union would respond in the 35th minute with a sharp counter-attack as a ball sprayed out to the left wing put Logan Weitzmann in a 1v1 with Carter Kladstrup. The bouncing ball off the turf combined with a tight angle did just enough to force Weitzmann to try to chip the ball over Kladstrup leading to a looping shot that allowed Baraka to get behind to clear out of front of goal. 

Following the half time break, Union opened with a chance in the 58th minute when Eamonn Kelley received a pass on the right wing and cut into his left before sending a shot across the turf that was collected by Kladstrup. 

With both sides determined not to let the other gain a foothold in the match, tough battles within the midfield remained constant as the second half wore on. In the 77th minute, Clarkson had a dangerous opportunity following a Union foul just outside of the 18 yard box. Ruthfield took command of the ball rifling a left footed shot towards goal that continued to rise over the crossbar and out for a goal kick. 

The deadlock would be broken in the 87th minute as Union would find the finishing touch to another attacking push. A cross field ball was played to the left wing, releasing Grant Della Rocca to play a low ball across the box to Kofi Sarfoh who took full advantage of time in front of goal to take a touch and smash a shot for 1-0. 

Not to be outdone, Clarkson went directly on the attack following the kickoff, sending the ball forward looking for the equalizer. That equalizer would come in the 89th minute when Kyle Otis picked up a cleared ball on the right wing and whipped a cross into the box where it was met by a cheeky flick from Jack Grace who flicked his heel at the ball behind him, getting just enough on it to direct it goalwards and level things up late to send the contest into overtime.

The Knights would knock on the door first in OT as Grace would play Paul Rolland in through the right side of the 18 but Rolland's shot would be deflected by a defender, popping it up for Jacob Perry to claim.  

Grace would come close to notching another in the 101st minute when a corner played in was met by Baraka who headed it back in front of goal where Grace flashed a foot at it, sending it towards goal but just over the crossbar. 

The final whistle after the second overtime period meant that the contest would be decided by penalty kicks. Union would win the coin toss and elect to kick first.Otis and Weitzmann led the shootout off with both players scoring the team's first attempts. Kladstrup would make a stop on the second, going to his right to keep it out, before Perry matched him, stopping Clarkson's attempt from Rolland. The next three rounds would all end in successful scores from the shooters, meaning the remaining rounds would all be sudden death. Sarfoh would lead off the sixth round and be successful going to the left, putting pressure on the Knights to respond. Jay Jezioro would take the sixth attempt for Clarkson going to the right, but the shot would be met by a diving Perry to seal the playoff victory for the Garnet Chargers. 

Both sides were notched at eight shot attempts apiece, while Union led in shots on goal (4-3) and corners (7-2). Kladstrup made three saves at the backbone of the Clarkson defense while Perry would make two for Union.