CALIFORNIA (Oct. 6) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team forced overtime with a goal in the 85th minute before playing to a 1-1 double-overtime tie against Mercyhurst on Wednesday night in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play at the Phillipsburg Soccer Complex.
With the tie, the Vulcans move to 1-6-2 this season with a 1-2-1 mark in league action. Meanwhile, the Lakers stand at 5-3-1 overall behind a 1-1-1 record in conference play. Mercyhurst entered the contest with the highest scoring offense in the PSAC this year after totaling 23 goals over its previous six games.
The Lakers took a 1-0 lead in the ninth minute on their first shot attempt of the game when Dylan Summer beat the goalie in the lower corner of the net. Late in the first half, Mercyhurst threatened to add to its lead with three corner kicks and a pair of shots on goal in a span of just under one minute.
In the opening 20 seconds of the second period, Cal U placed a shot on net before Mercyhurst countered with three shots following a corner kick. The physical play picked up midway through the period with each team being issued a yellow card. The Lakers were unable to place a shot on net despite back-to-back corner kicks multiples times with less than 20 minutes remaining in regulation. Cal U eventually tied the score at 1-1 at the 84:34-mark when senior
Adam Wood (Toronto, Ontario/Don Mills Collegiate Institute) recorded his first career goal off a free kick by junior
Jake Nebinski (Ardara, Pa./Norwin). Mercyhurst attempted to answer in the 88th minute with a shot on goal before each team was quickly issued a yellow card on the same play. However, the player for the Lakers was issued his second yellow card which forced Mercyhurst to play a 'man down' for the remainder of the contest.
Mercyhurst looked to end the game just 19 seconds into overtime before a 'team save' kept the score tied. The Lakers had another opportunity midway through the first overtime before the shot sailed high, while the Vulcans placed a shot on the net in the final minute.
Both teams applied pressure on the goal in the second overtime with a combined four shots, including two on target. Cal U managed to place a header on net in the 105th minute before Mercyhurst countered with a shot less than 30 seconds later.
Junior
Trevor Zabilowicz (Toms River, N.J./Toms River East) tallied a career-high eight saves while playing a full 110 minutes for the second time this season.
The Lakers finished with a 17-6 shot advantage with nine shots placed on goal. Mercyhurst also posted a 10-3 edge in corner kicks. The teams combined for nine yellow cards in the contest, including six in the second period, and were whistled for 39 total fouls.
Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Oct. 9, when it hosts Seton Hill at 1 p.m.
