MONTEVALLO, Ala. – The University of Montevallo men's soccer team earned a 2-2 draw against Lee University in Gulf South Conference play Sunday afternoon.
In a back and forth Senior Night game that saw overtime, an unlikely goal scorer and a sending off, the teams were level and unable to be separated after 110 minutes.
The Falcons took an early 1-0 lead in the second minute while most people were still trying to find their seats.
Josh Keller, who scored in each of the previous two games, turned provider for
Antoni Matabosch's second goal of the season.
Lee pressed for an equalizer in the first half but
Robert Kuta's seven saves kept the visiting Flames at bay.
The Flames leveled the game through Jose Orellana with less than 90 seconds run off the clock in the second half. Orellana worked a give and go pass with Jake Molony and slotted it home in the bottom left of the goal.
The Flames were the more adventurous side going forward in the second half and looked to have won it in the 87
th minute. An uncleared ball bounced up in front of Jared McWhorter and the freshman unleashed a half-volley that beat
Robert Kuta at his near post.
However, in the final 30 seconds of the game, the Falcons sent everyone forward for a final chance from a free kick. On the delivery from
Nicholas Pekel, goalie
Robert Kuta jumped higher than everyone to head the ball past Tristen Putnam in the closing moments. It was a dramatic way to tie the game and send it into overtime.
A tense overtime period saw
Nicholas Pekel sent off but the Flames were unable to take advantage of the man-up situation.
Arad Lev Ari had a final shot in the final seconds that was inches high of the top right corner.
Both teams settled for a draw after a hard-fought breathless 110 minutes of play.
Montevallo 2, Lee 2
October 15, 2017
Varsity Field (Montevallo, Alabama)
HOW IT HAPPENED
2' | Montevallo opened the scoring inside the opening two minutes of the game.
Josh Keller set up
Antoni Matabosch for the Spaniard's second goal of the season to give the Falcons an early lead.
47' | The second half started in a similar fashion to the first. The visitors scored less than two minutes into the period through Jose Orellana. He worked a one-two pass with Jake Molony to equalize right after the break.
87' | Lee thought they won the game four minutes from time with a half-volley from Jared McWhorter. The freshman's shot beat
Robert Kuta for pace at his near post to complete the turnaround.
90' | Montevallo snatched a late equalizer in regular time in unlikely fashion.
Robert Kuta was sent forward for the final free kick of the game and the Polish keeper rose highest to head home
Nicholas Pekel's free kick in the final seconds of regulation.
GAME NOTES
- The contest featured 42 total shots, including 25 for Lee and 17 for Montevallo. The Flames had 11 strikes on goal and the Falcons put 10 shots on frame. Robert Kuta made nine saves and his opposite number, Tristan Putnam, made eight stops.
- The Falcons dominated the corner count, 7 to 2. Both of Lee's corners came in extra time. All of Montevallo's corners took place in normal time.
- Josh Keller had been directly involved with a goal in each of the past three games. The senior added an assist to his two goals in the two previous games.
- Josh and his twin brother Zach, were recognized on Senior Night alongside teammates Nikola Klacar, Lukas Hauer and Austin Petrovich.
RECORDS
Montevallo 6-3-3 (3-1-3)
Shorter 5-4-4 (4-3-2)
UP NEXT
Montevallo finishes the season with four away games in the next two weeks. The first is a trip to Mississippi College on Friday, October 20. Kickoff from Robert P. Longabaugh Field in Clinton, Mississippi is set for 3 p.m. CT.
