Paladins score with 15 seconds remaining in regulation to escape with tie

 

GREENVILLE, S.C. (Sept. 27, 2012) – The ETSU men’s soccer team was 15 seconds away from victory against No. 25 Furman on Thursday night at Stone Soccer Stadium, but was victim to a goal with 15 seconds remaining to finish tied, 1-1.

With time winding down in regulation, Furman (7-1-2) keeper Doug Ryan sent a last-second chance into the box from his own side of midfield. Coleton Henning leapt to head the ball in the air, and found Tyler Peoples who scored from right in front of goal to steal a win from ETSU (4-4-1). Both sides had their chances through the two overtimes, but neither could convert to end the night level.

Senior Alesi Osorio (Austin, Texas) had put ETSU in front at the end of the first half, scoring his first goal of the year off assists from David Geno (Kingsport, Tenn.) and Jeremy Saad (Sydney, Australia). Osorio’s goal proved to earn ETSU the draw, extending its unbeaten streak against NSCAA top 25 opponents to five games.

For the game, ETSU was outshot 19-11, but controlled the majority of possession through the first half and both overtimes.

“I’m very proud of the performance,” ETSU head coach Scott Calabrese said.”Furman is a top 25 team, and to play them on the road and get a result is a good sign for us as we move into conference play.

“I was very happy with the attitude of the team. We worked hard and had to compete, and were able to do so. And could have potentially even won the game.”

The Paladins were lucky not to concede a goal earlier, as 12 minutes in junior Maximilian Muemken (Muenster, Germany) put on a good strike from distance that skimmed the head of a Furman defender and started dropping toward the net. Ryan’s attempt at a leaping save missed, but the shot clanged off the middle of the crossbar and deflected back out to Osorio. The senior fired a quick shot off the rebound, but missed wide.

Midway through the half, junior transfer Luis Calzadilla (Caracas, Venezuela) setup for a free kick from a few yards off the top of the box. Calzadilla’s shot bent around the wall, but sailed high of the crossbar to keep the game scoreless.

Furman put on its first good chance following Calzadilla’s attempt, playing a quick free kick and finding Adrian McGinnis free down the left sideline. McGinnis tried to beat ETSU keeper Ryan Coulter (Dublin, Ireland) with a shot low, but the Irish keeper was up to the task and stopped the chance on one of his six saves on the night.

With the half winding down, Saad had possession of the ball near the right side of the box, and played a pass back out to Geno. The A-Sun’s leading goal scorer sent a cross through, which found the head of Osorio to put the Bucs in front.

The shot count was even, 6-6, at the break, but ETSU had controlled the majority of possession and led the 25th-ranked Paladins by a goal.

Furman added some pressure in the second half, taking seven shots to ETSU’s three and testing the Buccaneer back line on multiple occasions. Coulter came up with another big save in the 78th minute, diving to his right to stop a sure goal by Martin Ontiveros. For the game, Ontiveros led all players with seven shots.

Right when it seemed ETSU would earn its fourth victory in five games against ranked teams, Furman’s desperation chance in the final seconds went through to equalize with :15 on the clock.

In the first minute of overtime, junior Nate Hodges (Meridian, Miss.) lined up a corner to setup ETSU’s best chance of the extra sessions. Hodges’ corner found junior A-Sun Preseason All-Conference selection Blaike Woodruff (Georgetown, Texas) on the far post, who controlled the pass and took a shot that was blocked out by the Paladins’ defense.

Furman’s best opportunity came in the second overtime, with McGinnis hitting the crossbar on a soft shot from outside the box.

ETSU ends its tough four-game road trip 0-3-1, but carries some momentum from a good result into Atlantic Sun play on Sunday, when it welcomes Mercer to Summers-Taylor Stadium.

ETSU Notes

- The tie ends ETSU’s three-game losing streak, and ends their four-game road trip at 0-3-1.

- ETSU is unbeaten in its last five games against NSCAA top 25 opponents. The Bucs beat then-No. 17 UAB earlier in the year, and went 2-0-1 against ranked teams last year.

- David Geno set the new ETSU record for career assists, earning his 11th to earn sole possession of first place all-time. Aaron Schoenfeld was the former record holder with 10.

- Alesi Osorio’s goal was the first of the season for the senior. He scored three last year, including the game-winner against then-No. 24 UNC Greensboro.

- Jeremy Saad earned his first collegiate point, assisting Osorio’s goal in the 44th minute.

For more information on ETSU men’s soccer, please visit ETSUBucs.com and click on the men’s soccer links.