Oct. 19, 2005
Final Stats
EASTON, Pa. - A pair of goals scored just 24 seconds apart were the only scores on a breezy fall night as Villanova (4-6-3 overall, 3-3-1 Big East) and Lafayette (7-4-1 overall) played a 1-1 tie here in men's soccer action at the Metzgar Fields Athletic Complex on Wednesday evening.
The first half was played fairly evenly, as Lafayette (7-4-1) controlled the first 25 minutes of the game before Villanova took over for the final 20 minutes. Neither team could break the seal with each squad firing off three shots.
A flurry of action broke the tie and then just as quickly re-tied the game in the 84th minute. Villanova senior Patrick Gallagher headed in a ball off a long throw-in at 84:19 and an assist from sophomore Billy Whiteside.
What looked to be the decisive goal, was answered by the Leopards' just 24 seconds later (84:43). Lafayette threw the ball in, and it hit off a Villanova defender. Sophomore Stefan McVeigh collected it and booted it home to tie the game 1-1.
Neither team could muster much of an offensive try in the final minutes of regulation, so the game went to sudden death overtime. It looked as if the golden goal were going to arrive early for the Leopards. At 91:20, junior Thomas Harju had a wide open look at the net when he beat a defender, but his shot rocketed off the near post. Lafayette held a 4-1 advantage in shots in the first overtime and a slight 11-9 edge overall.
Neither team could muster much offense in the final OT with Lafayette registering the lone shot. The Wildcats were forced to play a man down for the final seven minutes of the game when Chris Quinn received his second yellow card of the game and was ejected. The officials were busy on the night, as the two teams combined for 34 fouls (Villanova 21; Lafayette 13) and six cards. Also, earlier in the game a fan was ejected by the lead referee.
Villanova (4-6-3) countered the man down by substituting its normal starting goalkeeper Jason Friel for John Ward. Ward played 105 minutes and allowed one goal and made one save. Friel did not record a save in five minutes. Senior captain Mike Tortora spent the entire game in goal for Lafayette, making four saves while surrendering a goal.
Next up for the Wildcats is a Saturday matinee with Big East foe Cincinnati. Game time in Ohio is 3:00 p.m.
