WHEELING, W.Va. (Sept. 15) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 double-overtime draw at Wheeling Jesuit in non-conference play on Saturday afternoon.
With the tie, the Vulcans move to 1-0-3 this season after playing in their third overtime game of the year. Meanwhile, the Cardinals move to 3-1-2 overall and have now played three opponents from the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC).
Cal U applied offensive pressure early, forcing a save in the opening minutes before sailing a pair of shots wide of the net. The Cardinals countered with a pair of corner kicks, but were unable to register a shot on either attempt. The Vulcans scored the initial goal of the contest at the 17:17-mark after a goal-kick from senior
Lucas Exner (Horstmar, Germany/Pascal-Gymnasium) split the defense and created a breakaway goal for redshirt freshman
Conner Griest (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville), his second of the season. Wheeling Jesuit tried to answer following the goal, but saw a header go high of the net. Griest created a scoring chance later in the first half that was saved before Cal U took a 1-0 lead into halftime.
The Vulcans continued the offensive push in the second half, forcing the goalkeeper into a pair of saves in the opening 10 minutes. The Cardinals responded with three shots and two corner kicks in a seven-minute stretch before tying the match at 1-1 on a goal from senior Martin Minuzzi with an assist given to sophomore Gaizka Redondo. Wheeling Jesuit sustained pressure on the Vulcan defense, which resulted in several fouls and a red card being shown to freshman
Paul Young, Jr. (Kingston, Jamaica/St. George's) in the 81st minute. Exner tallied two saves in the second half and Cal U was forced into its second-straight overtime game.
The Cardinals peppered the net with five shots in the first overtime period, but were not able to find the back of the net. In the second overtime at the 106:55-mark, freshman
Mario Ulizzi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) nearly broke the tie when he hit the crossbar. The Vulcans were able to fire three more shots in the period, but the game ended as a draw.
Exner made his second start of the season and posted four saves in 110 minutes of action. He also tallied his fifth career assist after playing all 47 career games between the posts.
The Cardinals held a 21-12 shot advantage, while both teams recorded seven shots on goal. Wheeling Jesuit also held a 7-2 edge in corner kicks.
Cal U opens PSAC play on Friday, Sept. 21, when it travels to face defending-league champion East Stroudsburg at 1 p.m.
