La Plume, Pa. – Joe Martinho scored with 7.2 seconds remaining in regulation to give visiting Neumann University a 2-1 victory over Keystone College in a Colonial States Athletic Conference men's soccer quarterfinal playoff matchup in La Plume on Tuesday night.  The Knights improve to 8-11 on the fall and advance to Thursday's semifinal round where they will face top-seeded Centenary University.
 
The Giants, who hosted a CSAC playoff game for the first time in program history, end the 2016 season with a 9-7-1 overall record after suffering the heartbreaking loss.
 
Tuesday's contest marked the final game in a Keystone uniform for seniors Massimo Lahey (Stroudsburg, Pa./Pocono Mountain East), Aadil Mendez (Manhattan, N.Y./Pocono Mountain East), and Haris Sabovic (Brodheadsville, Pa./Pleasant Valley) who led the Giants to three CSAC playoffs in their four year careers.
 
Neumann had the first good scoring chance in Tuesday night's contest, but Keystone goalkeeper Steven Heintz, Jr. (Ardsley, Pa./Abington) made a nice diving stop in the 12^th minute on a Knights' forward to keep the game scoreless.  At the other end, Keystone's Abreham Kittel (Trumansburg, N.Y./Charles O. Dickerson) fired just wide from long distance before Jordan Vance (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan) was denied by Neumann goalkeeper Shane Smith from close range in the 31^st minute.
 
In the 36^th minute, Keystone was awarded a penalty kick after the Knights were whistled for a handball in their own 18-yard box.  Sabovic stepped up to the spot and buried his team-leading 12^th goal of the season to give the Giants a 1-0 advantage.  The senior finished the year a perfect ­5-5 on penalty kick chances.
 
Neumann generated several good scoring chances after Sabovic's goal, but Heintz finished the first half with five saves to keep Keystone ahead at halftime.
 
The Knight leveled the contest in the 57^th minute when Jake McDevitt ran onto a ball played over the top of the Giants' backline by Jon Cobb and a chipped a shot over Heintz from the left side that caromed in off the inside of the far, knotting the game at 1-1.
 
Keystone nearly went back in front five minutes later with a wild scramble in Neumann's penalty area, but Smith saved a shot from Rolando Rodriguez (Linden, N.J./Linden), Angel Perez (Miami, Fla./Dr. Michael M. Krop) had a shot blocked, and Vance placed a rebound opportunity just wide of the near post.
 
After Rodriguez fired just over the bar with six and a half minutes remaining in regulation, the game appeared to be destined for overtime, but Neumann earned a throw-in deep in the Giants' defensive third with 20 seconds remaining.  A scramble occurred in the host's goalmouth following a long throw-in and Martinho put home a rebound after Cobb's shot was blocked to give the Knights the dramatic win.
 
Smith picked up the win in goal for the Knight after making three saves while Heintz suffered the loss despite turning in a solid, six-save effort.
 
Neumann held a 16-13 edge in shots for the game while doubling up Keystone in shots on goal, 8-4.  The Knights also claimed a 5-2 advantage in corner kick opportunities on the evening.
 
#2 Immaculata University will host #3 Cabrini University, a 3-0 winner over #6 Gwynedd Mercy University in Tuesday's other first round matchup, in Thursday's other semifinal. The two semifinal winners will meet on Saturday for the CSAC Championship.