Tritons Equalize Twice, Play to Draw at Saint Leo

SAINT LEO, Fla. - The Eckerd men's soccer team notched a pair of late equalizers to force overtime on the road at Saint Leo, but neither team could put away a golden goal as the match ended in a 2-2 draw.

HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 2, Saint Leo 2
Records: Eckerd 3-4-1 (1-3-1 SSC); Saint Leo 2-5-1 (1-2-1 SSC)
All-Time Series: Tied, 22-22-3

HOW IT HAPPENED
* Chances were rare in the first half with a total of eight shots combined (five for Saint Leo, three for Eckerd) and only one shot on goal, coming from EC's Gabriel Caetano in the 30th minute.  The Tritons did manage to push forward during the half, though, and earned six corner kicks but none turned into scoring opportunities.
* Saint Leo controlled possession early in the second half, taking five shots in the first 11 minutes.  The Eckerd defense was able to block two of the attempts while Alex Gott saved another.
* The Lions broke through in the 73rd minute, countering after a corner kick by Juan David Tejada.  Till Lammertz slipped a pass through the Triton back line into the box where Hermon Constant one-timed it past Gott.
* The Tritons upped their pressure following the score, taking three shots in a three-minute span.  None resulted in goals but a foul in the box set up a penalty kick for EC in the 81st minute.  Westleigh Rush took advantage, equalizing the match on his second PK goal of the season.
* Saint Leo retook the lead in the 87th minute when Constant struck again, this time getting behind the defense and cutting around the sliding challenge of Gott for a 2-1 Lion lead.
* Moments later, Tejada delivered a corner kick into the box where Liam Guest sent a header toward the goal, but it was saved by SLU's Conor McElhinney.  Tejada then had a direct chance off a free kick after a yellow card shown to Saint Leo, but McElhinney once again turned back the attempt.
* With under a minute left in regulation, Robert Carter beat a Saint Leo defender to a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box.  Carter quickly blasted a shot that got past McElhinney into the bottom left corner to equalize the match in the 90th minute.
* The Tritons dominated the first overtime period taking eight shots to Saint Leo's one.  Both teams managed one shot in the second overtime period as the match ended in a draw.

NOTABLE
* Eckerd outshot Saint Leo, 21-10, in the second half and overtime periods combined.
* Rush is now 2-for-2 on penalty kick chances this season.
* Carter has scored a goal in two of Eckerd's last three matches.  Both have been against SSC opponents.

QUOTABLE
"For most of the game, I would say I'd be extremely disappointed with a draw.  But for all our possession, we lacked penetration.  Saint Leo set themselves up very well and we fell into the trap of being overly comfortable with the game." - EC head coach Ian Cameron

UP NEXT
The Tritons enjoy their bye date on Saturday before returning to Johnson Field next Wednesday to host Rollins College at 7:00 PM.