COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Rafael Otero got to a loose ball 35 yards from goal and dribbled through a pair of Colorado College defenders before slotting home the game-winning goal with 3:02 left in the second overtime as the Claremont-Mudd-Scripps men's soccer team defeated the host No. 5 Tigers 2-1 in the NCAA Regional finals on Sunday afternoon. 

With the win, CMS improves to 16-3-3 overall and moves on to face No. 3 Middlebury in the NCAA Sectionals (Round of 16) next weekend in Vermont. The Stags have now won the last two NCAA Regionals it has participated in, after also winning a regional held at Trinity (Texas) in 2019.  

The game-winning goal was set up after a 100-yard punt by goalie Daniel Kotkosky, who gathered in a loose ball in the CMS penalty area and gave the Stags a chance to advance up the field before sending it as far as he could. His blast was headed by a Tiger defender back towards the middle of the field, where Otero ran onto it unmarked with a head of steam.

Otero ran at a Colorado College defender at the top of the 18-yard box, and cut to his left, before turning his hips and shooting back across his body back to the right between two Tigers, rolling a shot inside the right post to end the game and send the Stags through to the Round of 16 with his 13th goal of the year. 

Otero nearly won the game four minutes earlier on a header inside the box off a cross from Shaan Malik, but the play was whistled dead for an offsides violation. 

CMS took a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute, when James Gomez dispossessed a Colorado College defender inside the penalty area and was able to get a 1v1 against goalkeeper Alex Wolter from 10 yards out, easily finishing to put the Stags in front. The lead held until 6:32 left in regulation, when Colorado College's Oliver Ramirez finished in the goalmouth after a Tiger penalty kick. 

Gomez had a good look in the final minute of regulation on a counter, but sent a shot towards the upper-right corner that missed just high. He had another chance in the fourth minute of overtime, but Wolter denied him with a diving save. 

Miles Demarest had five saves through the first 75 minutes before giving way to Kotkosky, who made two saves in the closing minutes of regulation to preserve the 1-1 score and enable the Stags to get the game into the extra sessions. 

CMS will head to No. 3 Middlebury looking to keep its postseason run going after winning two SCIAC Tournament and two NCAA Regional games. The Stags have won road games this year against the then-No. 1 (St. Olaf) and No. 5 (Colorado College) this season.