MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Senior midfielder Phillip Spickenbaum booted in the game-winning penalty-kick goal with 59 seconds left in the second overtime period to give the Auburn Montgomery Men's Soccer team a 1-0 victory over West Alabama on Sunday, Nov. 7 and clinch a spot in the semifinal round of the Gulf South Conference Championship.
 
The win improves AUM's 2021 record to 10-4-2, marking for the Warhawks' first 10-win season since 2014. The victory also marks for Head Coach Matthew Thorne's 100th career win, bringing his all-time record to 100-53-16.
 
The golden-goal, which marked for Spickenbaum's fourth of the season and second game-winner, was set up by a foul inside the box on Lucas Batistela as the final minute of the second overtime period waned down.
 
After a defensive stalemate in half number one, the Warhawks upped their pressure on the UWA defense by tallying 10 of their 12 total shots in the game's final 63 minutes. AUM took four shots over the final 12 minutes, with a pair of near misses from Juan del Castillo and set-piece attacks that just missed high from Andrew Elkins and Hamza Sadiq.
 
Del Castillo's three shots on the day led the squad while Batistela, Guilherme Bittencourt, and Spickenbaum each took two shots.
 
In goal, Alexander Kraus logged his seventh shutout of the season and grabbed one save on the way improving his 2021 record to 10-3-1.
 
"I'm very proud of these boys; they showed tremendous character," Head Coach Mathew Thorne said. "The last couple weeks have been stressful for the team, especially with Thursday's gut-wrenching loss in the final seconds. But, when it came down to it, we were able to take care of business against an excellent West Alabama team with a lot of quality players that are coached very well.  We knew today was going to be a battle, but this team never gives up. They always give 100 percent and are in there fighting for each other. And because of that, we now have a chance down in Pensacola on Friday to compete for a spot in the conference championship match."
 
The men's soccer team will take on West Florida on Friday, Nov. 12 in the semifinal round of the GSC Championship in Pensacola, Fla.  A time will be announced once it becomes known.
 
For the latest on AUM athletics, find us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.