PORTSMOUTH, Ohio - Mere seconds away from securing a spot in the River States Conference Tournament, the Midway soccer team's celebration was halted for at least a day.
Nikos Pontikis delivered a tying goal with only 19 seconds remaining and Shawnee State tied Midway 3-3 in a critical men's soccer matchup Wednesday night.
The Eagles were credited with just three shots on goal the entire game, but made every one of them count. Just 1 minute, 26 seconds after the Bears force a 2-2 tie, Martin Escobar gave Midway the lead back 3-2 with a 76th-minute goal off an Owen Clements assist.
Henry Alvor and Ben Banton also had goals in the 20th and 50th minutes respectively.
A win would have gotten Midway into the RSC Tournament for the second year in a row. Despite the disappointing end to Wednesday's game, the Eagles still have a clear path to the playoffs.
Midway (2-3-2 in conference play) can clinch the fifth seed in the six-team tournament with a win over Indiana East (2-4) on Saturday. That scenario would create a rematch at Shawnee State in the first round of the playoffs.
Saturday's game against IU East will begin at 5:30 p.m.