TUCSON, Ariz. – All-American hopeful
Yussef Hakmaoui scored both Bobcat goals, the second coming a minute into overtime, to lift Jones over Mesa 2-1 to close out Pool B play at the national tournament.
Jones needed to win by four goals to advance out of the pool, something they had done eight times this season.
The Bobcats fell short of advancing to the national semifinals, but closed out a historic season with a victory to finish 16-1.
Gabriel Gutierrez Alapizco gave the Thunderbirds a 1-0 lead in the 21st minute and it would hold up for the next 50 minutes of play.
Hakmaoui took a cross into the box from
Denim Lombard and flicked it in to tie the match at 1-1 with 14:07 left in regulation.
Jones needed less than a minute in overtime to find the game-winner off the foot of Hakmaoui.
Both teams had ample opportunities with 10 corner kicks apiece. The final shot tally was 9-4 in favor of Jones.