EMMANUEL, EMERSON MEN'S SOCCER ENDS IN STALEMATE
Oct. 11, 2008
SOMERVILLE, Mass. - The Emmanuel Men's Soccer Team played the visiting Lions of Emerson College into double-overtime before ending in a 1-1 tie at Dilboy Stadium on Saturday night. The Lions, who were looking for their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win of the season, trailed 1-0 for much of the game, but scored late in the second half to send the contest into extended play. Both teams had several scoring opportunities in the two overtimes, but could not capitalize.
Emmanuel (3-7-2, 1-2-2 GNAC) scored the opening goal in the cross-town rivalry. Freshman midfielder Ian O'Hala (Bristol, CT) came off the bench and turned a beautiful throw in into an assist to sophomore forward Gavin Molta (Southwick, MA). Molta took O'Hala's pass and drilled it over the head of Emerson's junior keeper Nick Strauss (Norwood, MA), scoring his 6th goal of the season and putting the Saints on the board at 25:39.
The Lions and Saints played evenly for the remainder of the first half, with each team tallying three shots apiece. Emerson (5-7-1, 0-4-1 GNAC) rallied in the second half and out-shot the Saints, 6-3. The Lions netted their third shot of the second stanza, when junior midfielder Casey Shane (New York, NY) scored on a breakaway down the right side at 77:33, tying the game at 1-1. The two teams then traded scoring opportunities for the remaining 12 minutes, but neither could convert.
The Saints managed to take three shots on goals in the two overtimes, but were not able to find the back of the net and the battle ended in a deadlock at 1-1. Strauss played the full 110:00 minutes in goal for the Lions, making 5 saves in the effort. Sophomore goalkeeper Carlos Perez (Boca Raton, FL) stopped six of the Lions' seven shots on goal, while playing the full game for Emmanuel.
The Saints will play again on Wednesday (10/15), when the Saints travel to Providence, RI to take on the Wildcats of Johnson & Wales University in a 3:30pm start. Emerson will host Norwich University on Wednesday night at 6pm at Rotch Playground.