JOLIET, Ill. - The University of St. Francis' Mason Messina (SR/Shorewood, Ill.) picked an opportune time to tally his first collegiate goal as the senior scored just 47 seconds into overtime in leading the Saints to a thrilling 3-2 overtime decision over Judson this Wednesday (Sept. 25) night in a Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference (CCAC) men's soccer match on ATI Field in Joliet Memorial Stadium.
 

Messina, who had recorded one point in 59 career contests at USF entering the match, had quite the productive night as he not only accounted for the game-winning goal but also assisted on both of the Saints' two previous scores. Messina's game-winner came on a shot from 25 yards out off a deflection which eluded Judson goalkeeper Jacob Collins to give USF (4-2-2, 1-1-0 CCAC) the home league victory.
 

Judson (2-6-0, 0-2-0 CCAC) was the first to get on the scoreboard at 24:30 into the contest as the Eagles scored off a rebound from a blocked shot by a USF defender, who initially saved a potential goal. However, JU's Fernando Nava Jr. was positioned in front of the Saints' goal and quickly deposited the ball into the Saints' goal to put the visitors up 1-0. 
 

The Saints would counter just before the end of the first half as forward Reuel Erastus-Obilo (SR/Potters Bar, England) registered his team-leading sixth goal of the season at the 40:23 mark on a kick from 10 feet out off a lob pass by Messina in front of the Judson goal.
 

The second half saw USF break the 1-1 tie just five minutes into the frame as midfielder-forward Isaac Brown (FR/Rockton, Ill.)'s header off a Messina kick toward the Eagles' goal found its way past goalkeeper Jason Collins to give the Saints a 2-1 lead. USF held its advantage until 65:58 of the match when Judson was awarded a penalty kick on a Saints' infraction and Diego Silva successfully converted on the opportunity for his team-high fifth goal of the year. to tie the match once again and eventually set up Messina's heroics.
 

Prior to the Messina game-winning goal, Judson had an opportunity to reclaim its lead late in regulation at 85:37 but USF goalkeeper Carlos Ferrer Coto (JR/LA Fresneda, Spain) made his most significant save of the night by denying the Eagles' JC Germano on a penalty shot attempt. 
 

USF, which was outshot by a 25-13 margin, received an 11-saves performance from goalkeeper Coto in 93:40 minutes of action between the posts. His counterpart, Jacob Collins stopped five of eight Saints' shots on goal in also going the distance.
 

The conference match was a physical one as a combined 43 fouls were whistled along with six yellow cards and one red one, which was assessed to Judson late in the first half and thus forced the Eagles to play the remainder of the contest a player down.
 

In corner kicks, USF held a 6-4 edge.
 

Individually, midfielder Stefan Jakovljevic (JR/Bregenz, Austria) totaled a team-most four shots while three others - Brown, Reuel Erastus-Obilo (SR/Potters Bar, England), and defender Hameed Soberu (JR/Lagos, Nigeria) garnered two shots apiece.
 

The Saints will close out their two-match conference home stand this Saturday (Sept. 28) hosting Trinity Christian in a 3:30 p.m. (CT) encounter at ATI Field in Joliet Memorial Stadium.