Courtesy Rochester Sports Information

GRANTHAM, Pa. – Jake Cargill headed in a cross from Josh Richards in the first minute of the second sudden-victory overtime to give Rochester a 2-1 victory over Wesleyan in the NCAA Men’s Soccer Championships at Messiah College.

The win puts the Yellowjackets into the national quarterfinals of the tournament. This is the farthest Rochester has ever advanced in NCAA tournament play.

Rochester will play Messiah College at 6 pm Sunday for the right to advance to the semifinals. Messiah rallied from a 2-0 halftime deficit to defeat Johns Hopkins, 3-2, also in overtime.

Wesleyan took a 1-0 lead at 15:14 when Keisuke Yamashita steered home a pass from Nick Whipple for his team-leading fifth goal of the season.

Early in the second half, Cargill created a chance for Rochester to equalize. His cross found J.J. Dennstedt in the center of the goalmouth but Wesleyan keeper Adam Purdy got to the ball just ahead of the Rochester senior forward.

Ten minutes into the half, the Yellowjackets drew even. Scott Cady scored his ninth goal of the season when he got to a loose ball in the penalty area and pushed it into the goal.

Wesleyan nearly crept ahead with just under 27 minutes to play. Austin Woolridge dribbled to the top of the area and fired at goal. The ball hit the top of the crossbar and went out of bounds.

In the final minute of regulation, Wesleyan’s Asante Brooks took the ball down the left sideline and got it to Yamashita in the center of the area. He couldn’t turn to shoot and the Yellowjackets cleared it from their own penalty area just before the 90-minute whistle.

“It was an excellent soccer game,” said Wesleyan coach Geoff Wheeler. “Rochester is a strong team and very well coached.” Both teams had one chance in the first OT. Brooks fired from the top of the area but Rochester goalkeeper Michael Peacock made the save three minutes in. With 2:30 to go, Rochester’s Phil Proud drove a free kick on goal that was saved by Purdy.

Rochester booked its spot in Sunday's quarterfinals at 100:38. Richards sent a deep cross from the left side to Cargill who headed home his fourth goal of the season and second game-winner.

Now, the Yellowjackets take on the team that has ended their season in each of the last two years. Messiah defeated Rochester, 6-0, in the Sweet 16 in Grantham two years ago. Last year, the Falcons won, 1-0, in the second round at Edwin Fauver Stadium. Opportunity awaits.

Rochester is 14-1-3 with the victory. Wesleyan finishes at 12-2-5. The attendance was listed as 1,325.