The Wheeling Jesuit Men's soccer team kicked off their season Thursday night against the visiting Point Park Pioneers at WJU's James LaRosa Athletic complex. In a tense, physical match, the Cardinals scored a goal late in the second half to send the game to extra time, eventually ending in a 1-1 draw.
 
The Pioneers scored the first goal of the game in the 35^th minute when Dominic Canello broke free and went one-on-one with WJU goalie Cody Thompson. Canello drilled it past a diving Thompson to make it 1-0 Point Park.
 
The momentum in the first half swung back and forth with both sides exchanging blows. Wheeling Jesuit proved they could get off shots, even hitting the cross bar on some shots at goal, however they failed to crack the scoreboard in the first stanza.
 
The second half began much like the first half with each team attacking. Wheeling Jesuit's Luke Roan nearly had a goal in the 37^th minute, however an offside call against the Cardinals caused the goal to be disallowed. Wheeling Jesuit had another great opportunity but the visiting Point Park goalie made a highlight reel save.
 
Wheeling Jesuit continued to keep adding pressure toward the end of the second half but still had nothing to show for it.
           
The Cardinals couldn't seem to catch a break with offside calls racking up against them in the double digits. Finally with four minutes left to play #15 Jeff Cancelmi nailed a rocket from the top of the box to tie the game at one, and eventually send it to overtime.
 
Both teams drastically stepped up their game in overtime play, coming dangerously close to scoring on multiple occasions. The game nearly ended late in the first extra period when Englishmen Luke Roan picked his way past the attacking goalkeeper, but the shot bounced off of the unforgiving crossbar.
 
The second round of overtime proved to be just as physical as the previous 100 minutes. Both teams poured every ounce of energy they had left into each pass hoping for a lucky break and an open net. As the game drew to a finish, the Cardinals made a last push for the net when #7 Aitor DeHeredia ripped a shot from 30 yards out, but the Pioneer goalkeeper would not lie down easily, making a diving save from the on-target shot.
 
Seconds later #9 Vince Faraji made a break down left field rushing past the defense and putting a shot past the keeper to the far post only to have it bounce back into the field of play.
 
The game ended with two very well matched teams tied at 1-1.
 
The Cardinals now head to Philly to take on Philadelphia University on Saturday.

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