Drexel University Athletics
Drexel University
Delaware
Men's Soccer Draws, 3-3, With Rival Delaware
10/8/2008 10:12:10 PM | Men's Soccer
Philadelphia – Drexel (3-4-3, 1-1-1 CAA) battled to a 3-3 tie with regional rival Delaware (1-7-3, 0-2-1). The Dragons led the match on three different occasions, but could not hold on for the conference victory. Delaware's Andrew Englehart scored two equalizers for the Blue Hens in the match. Drexel's Anthony Bafile (West Chester, Pa.) scored his second goal of the season and assisted on Drexel's third goal of the match.
Delaware outshot Drexel 24-19 in the match and 6-4 in the overtime periods to come from behind to earn its first point in conference play. Drexel keeper Cory Robertson (Scottsdale, Ariz.) made nine saves, including seven in regulation.
Bafile earned the Dragons' first goal when he settled a ball on the left side and made a quick turn to get past one defender just inside the box. He beat another Blue Hen one-on-one before chipping the ball past the goalie to the middle, giving Drexel a 1-0 lead.
Delaware got the equalizer with just under three minutes remaining in the first half. Bill Paugh launched a throw-in into the goal box from the right sideline. The ball bounded untouched in front of keeper Cory Robertson. But E.J. Alvarado challenged for the ball and connected with a header that couldn't be gloved by the keeper, and it found its way into the back of the net.
Although Drexel led through the majority of the first period, the Blue Hens seemed to control the tempo of the match, outshooting Drexel 11-3 in the half and forcing Robertson to make four saves.
The Dragons wasted no time getting back on top in the second half. Leland Raum (Leonardtown, Md.) settled a ball at the top of the goal box, turning through a pair of Blue Hens to open up space for a solo shot against the goalie from just inside the box. Raum lifted the ball to the upper right side to give Drexel a 2-1 lead less than two minutes into the second period.
The Blue Hens bounced back again with 17 minutes left in the half when a ball served on the left side was chipped to the middle by Blair Hammond. Andrew Englehart, who came off the bench in the second half, found the ball at his foot on the Drexel doorstep. He promptly deposited it past Robertson to make it a 2-2 match.
Drexel nearly found another goal just minutes later when Nate Baker (Andover, Mass.) sprinted the sideline on a breakaway and blistered a cross into the goal box. Substitute Mike Crosse (Yorkshire, England) dove for the header, but just mistimed it, failing to connect.
Each team had their opportunities to get the go-ahead goal in the final 12 minutes. With 11 minutes left in regulation Raum again found himself with space in the box. But his curving shot hit the right post and bounced out. Delaware answered with a wide open break by Paul Danaher but the junior's shot flew high over the crossbar.
Crosse, who had entered the match just minutes earlier, put Drexel ahead in the 81st minute when he took a ball from Bafile and out dueled two defenders on the right side of the box to free himself for a shot. Crosse did not miss the mark, blasting a goal to the upper right side.
Once again the Dragons failed in the preservation of their lead, however, as Engelhart picked up his second goal of the match in the 87th minute. Engelhart received his feed from Taylor Thames on the left side of the goal box and put his shot in the upper right corner past a diving Robertson to make it a 3-3 match.
Drexel's best scoring chance in the overtime periods came midway through the second extra stanza. Greg Ermold (Shillington, Pa.) won a battle for a ball at midfield and put a pass into space for Nate Baker on the right side. Baker sprinted down the ball and saved it before it reached the end line. Baker's desperation kick reached Ermold in the goal box. He dribbled it to the left behind a screen of defenders and put a shot to the left side that was just wide of the goal.
Delaware's chance came just minutes later when Danaher found Demar Stephenson on the left side. Stephenson blasted a shot with no defender in front of him. But Robertson blocked it out of bounds to save the tie.
The match was the fifth overtime affair for the Hens this season, entering the contest Delaware was 0-3-1 in overtime. It was also Drexel's fifth extra-period match, the Dragons are now 1-1-3 in overtime.
Drexel is back in action at Vidas Field on Saturay, Oct. 11 when the Dragons host the Georgia State Panthers at 1:00 p.m.
Delaware 1 2 0 0 - 3
Drexel 1 2 0 0 - 3
Scoring Summary
10:48 DU Bafile (unassisted)
42:48 UDel Alvarado (Paugh)
46:12 DU Raum (McCaffery)
71:44 UDel Engelhart (Hammond)
80:14 DU Crosse (Bafile)
86:21 UDel Englehart (Thames)
Shots: UDel 24, Drexel 19
Corners: Drexel 8, UDel 2
Saves: Robertson (Drexel) 9, Rusnak (Delaware) 1
Fouls: UDel 14, Drexel 13
Cards: Jon Scheer (Delaware), yellow, 7:37; Bryan Ruff (Drexel), yellow, 36:32; Eric Zimmer (40:38) yellow
