ASHLAND, Ohio – As the AU men's soccer team comes down the stretch of the regular season, the Eagles will need to focus on picking up as many points as they can as they try to secure a conference title and a berth in the NCAA playoffs.
That quest continued on Friday (Oct. 15) night as the Eagles earned a point against a rugged Northwood squad. The teams played to a 1-1 draw after 110 minutes of play in Midland, Mich.
The tie extended the Eagles' 19-game unbeaten streak in regular season GLIAC play.
Chen Tzfania gave the Timberwolves (5-4-3, 2-3-3 GLIAC) the lead in the 24th minute as he rifled a shot from 25 yards over Ashland sophomore keeper Justin Nolan (Medina, Ohio/Highland).
Nolan kept the Eagles in the game from that point on, making five saves in total, including three in the second half and one in the second overtime period. The Timberwolves out-shot the Eagles, 22-12, for the game.
Ashland finally nailed the equalizer in the 76th minute when freshman Brian Ruhaak (Akron, Ohio/Copley) finished a cross from five yards out. The assist went to sophomore Mitch Deyhle (Cincinnati, Ohio/La Salle), his second of the season. The goal was also Ruhaak's second this year.
Neither team was able to come up with the golden goal in the overtime periods. Both keepers made one save in the second overtime. Ashland midfielder Adam Spannbauer (Akron, Ohio/Firestone) had a shot turned away by NU keeper Matt Renouf in the 109th minute. Renouf stopped three shots in the game.
Ashland out-shot Northwood, 5-4, in the overtime periods, but the Eagles were unable to put away the winner. The Timberwolves had the edge in corner kicks, 6-4.
The Eagles won the first game between the teams earlier this month at Ferguson Field, 2-1.
Ashland will now travel to Saginaw Valley State for a game on Sunday (Oct. 17) afternoon that serves as AU's road finale. Kickoff is slated for 2:30 p.m. The teams tied, 1-1, on Oct. 3 in Ashland.
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