CEDARVILLE, Ohio - Timmy Waller blasted home a close range shot late in the second overtime to give top-seeded Cedarville a 3-2 win over Indiana Wesleyan in the semifinals of the NCCAA Midwest Regional.

The defending champion Yellow Jackets, 13-6 overall, host No. 3 Grace (Ind.) in Saturday's championship match. The Lancers played a scoreless tie at No. 2 Bethel (Ind.), but advanced on penalty kicks, 5-4.

Waller was on the doorstep to finish off a ball that started on the foot of James Twinem. The senior midfielder gathered the ball on the left side of the penalty area following a flurry in the box. Twinem delivered a hard shot on frame that deflected right to Waller at the goal line, who hammered home the winner in the 107th minute.

Ironically, the contest was leading up to a potential reversal of fortunes that took place nearly one year ago to the day. On Nov. 20, 2010, Cedarville hosted IWU in the region final and erased a two-goal deficit in the final eight minutes of regulation to win, 4-3, with Waller netting that winner.

This time, the Yellow Jackets nearly blew a game they dominated statiscially. Jeremy Hoppe scored on a breakaway in the 13th minute while Twinem set up Ethan Shula for a goal with just six seconds left in the first half to give CU the momentum.

It stayed 2-0 until the final 13 minutes. The Wildcats headed in a corner kick in the 79th minute and then got another header off a restart in the 85th to equalize. IWU even had a ball ricochet off the post in the first overtime.

Cedarville outshot the Wildcats 21-6 overall and 14-4 in shots on goal. The hosts also had a 10-4 margin in corner kicks. Indiana Wesleyan closes the season at 11-10.

STATS  ♦  STEPHEN PORT PHOTO GALLERY

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