Doswell header lifts Storm past Grinnell in OT

INDIANOLA, Iowa – Freshman Darius Doswell showcased impressive footwork throughout Tuesday's season opener against Grinnell, but it was his head that proved to be the difference in the outcome.

Doswell headed in the game-winner in the 102nd minute off a Marcus Varnum corner kick and the Simpson men's soccer team beat Grinnell 2-1 in a thrilling, double-overtime affair to start the 2015 season.

Despite controlling the pace for most of the game, the Storm (1-0) had trouble cracking a Grinnell defense that allowed just eight goals in all of 2014. Trailing 1-0, Simpson finally got on the board when Varnum served his first great corner kick of the evening, finished by Louis Joslyn in the 57th minute.

Simpson held an 11-3 advantage in corners and out-shot the Pioneers (0-1) 16-7.

In his first collegiate game, Doswell carved through the Grinnell defense but couldn't come up with a goal in three shots. His break came in the second overtime, when he won Varnum's corner and went uppper 90 to bury the golden goal.

"You tell your guys to gut it out, win the game and be the hero," head coach Rick Isaacson said. "That's exactly what Darius did. He saw an opportunity to win a ball out the air, he attacked the ball and we ended up digging the ball out of the back of the net."

Simpson fell behind when goalkeeper Zach McEntee was forced to vacate the net late in the first half, allowing Artis Curiskis to give Grinnell a one-goal lead in the 40th minute.

With the win, Simpson is now 5-0 in season openers under Rick Isaacson.

UP NEXT
Simpson hosts Rockford at the grass pitch South of the fraternity houses on Saturday, Sept. 5 at Noon.