Although number three seeded LT (13-4) held a lead for much of the game, they couldn’t hold on versus a tough number one seeded Morton (14-1-2) side, and fell 3-2 in the final of the PepsiCo Showdown at DePaul on Sunday in penalty kicks.

“I felt really bad for our guys,” Head Coach Paul Labbato said. “I think they felt like they could win, and to have it snatched away at the end really stinks.”

After two consecutive games, 80 minutes of regulation and 10 minutes of overtime, LT’s first two penalties were stopped by Morton keeper Ian Chacon, and two conversions by Harry Hilling ‘15 and Patrick Duncan ‘15 were unable to prompt a comeback against a Morton squad that finished all four of their attempted penalties.

“The margin of error against Chacon is extremely small,” Labbato said. “He’s so big and fast that the pressure really builds on the shooter. I thought we took some good penalties, but he just got there.”

After taking an early lead off of a Hilling free kick that hit the crossbar and was subsequently finished by Duncan in the 13^th minute, LT held a 1-0 lead for almost 40 minutes. The veteran defense of Leo Gabrek ’15, John Mazur ’16, Danny Thomas ’15 and Liam Sharkey ’15 stayed strong against a lightning fast Morton offense that garnered many legitimate offensive chances at the end of the first half.

LT held its lead until Morton scored after a questionable free kick call at the top of LT’s 18-yard box. Morton’s Jose Mercado slotted the ball into the far post past a diving Donald Darrus ’16 to tie the game at one with 18:35 left in the second half.

LT continued to press, and held the majority of the offensive chances in the late part of the second half. Daniel Gutierrez ’15 scored a blazing shot of the right post past a diving Chacon to put the Lions back in the lead with eight minutes remaining.

But, the lead was short lived and a mere 18 seconds later, Morton penetrated through a still-celebrating Lion’s side and scored a breakaway right under Darrus’ fingers, to re-tie the game at two.

“I was disappointed that we were asleep for those 25 seconds after we scored, that’s the most dangerous time to fall asleep in a game,” Labatto said. “You’ve got to control your emotions and be ready to play, and clearly we [didn’t do that].

The game was then tied at regulation, and went through a 10 minute overtime period, with both teams posting quality offensive chances before heading to penalties where LT was unable to convert two of their four penalty kicks, resulting in a second place finish in the showdown.