LIVINGSTON, Ala. - The Eckerd men's soccer team earned a quality result on the road on Friday, playing to a 2-2 draw at 19th-ranked West Alabama.
The Tritons led at halftime, 2-1, and came within inches of putting in the golden goal near the end of the second overtime period.
HOW IT ENDED
Final: Eckerd 2, #19 West Alabama 2
Records: Eckerd 2-1-1, West Alabama 1-0-1
KEY MOMENTS
- The Tigers struck early, opening the scoring on a Callum Rai goal that came via a corner kick in the 10th minute. Â It was their first shot of the match.
- Eckerd notched an equalizer in the 24th minute when Agustin Pertusso took the ball away in the left of the box and pushed through a pair of defenders to close range near the left post. Pertusso slipped a low shot past UWA keeper Ollie Harrison into the lower right corner for his second goal of the season.
- The Tritons scored again in the 39th minute. Robert Carter took control of a ball headed back near the top of the box and slotted a short pass to Juan David Tejada, who quickly turned and fired a shot inside the right post.
- West Alabama equalized the match shortly after the start of the second half on an unassisted goal by Elias Settouf.
- Eckerd had three chances late in regulation but couldn't put them on frame. Â EC continued to attack in the first overtime period with four shots, but all were saved by Harrison.
- A free kick gave UWA a good look in the second overtime but Rai's header was wide left. Â Moments later, Eckerd had an excellent chance as Pertusso got loose behind the defense but narrowly missed what would have been the golden goal with under a minute left.
NOTES AND NUMBERS
- Eckerd held a slight edge in shots, 17-16.
- Tejada's goal was his third in four matches.
- The last time Eckerd played to a draw with a nationally-ranked team was on September 19, 2015, when the Tritons played to a 1-1 tie at home against No. 8 Florida Tech.
QUOTABLE
"Tonight was a really good battle between two strong sides. Â Chances fell both ways at the end but a tie is probably justified from the run of play. Â Our young players are starting to manage the critical moments of the game better and understand how to be strong in the moments that count the most on both ends." - EC head coach
Ian Cameron
UP NEXT
The Tritons finish the brief road swing in Alabama with a visit to the University of Alabama in Huntsville on Sunday for a 2:00 PM kickoff.