There's little doubt that this 2012 AU men's soccer team has a fine skill set. In the early part of this season it has shown an ability to shut down teams defensively and the passing and execution on offense appears to be improved from a year ago.
Friday (Sept. 21) against Northwood at Ferguson Field the Eagles demonstrated another skill that will be important this season – resiliency.
Ashland fell behind, 1-0 early in the match. That and the fact that the Eagles were trying to bounce back from their first GLIAC loss of the season (1-0 at Saginaw Valley State) last Sunday, made this an interesting look into this team's make-up. For one day, the Eagles passed that test with flying colors.
The Eagles got a goal from sophomore Adam Mitchell (Brighton, England/Brighton City College) in the second overtime session to nip Northwood, 2-1. AU is 4-1-1 overall, 3-1 in the GLIAC. The Timberwolves are 3-1-1 and 3-1 in the conference.
Mitchell's goal came after a well-placed cross from senior Andrew Over (Akron, Ohio/St. Vincent-St. Mary). The goal was his first of the season. It put an end to a back-and-forth match that was well played throughout the 107-plus minutes.
The 'Wolves looked to be the sharper team in the game's first 10 minutes. They scored at 4;50, Sam Nair taking a feed from Jack Smith and scoring on a breakaway. Nair lofted the ball over the head of keeper Justin Nolan (Medina, Ohio/Medina Highland) to get NU on the board.
The Timberwolves had several other good opportunities in those opening minutes. Nair and Smith were particularly active and the Eagles had their work cut out for them marking that duo. Still, AU was able to weather the storm and at 30:26, sophomore Buster Meaney (Essex, England/South Essex College) got his first goal of the year. Mitchell got the assist on the play.
The score stayed tied, 1-1 until Mitchell's game-winner in overtime. In the first extra session, the Timberwolves had the advantage. They kept pressure on Nolan and the Eagles for the majority of the stanza and came close with several shots. AU's Max Rohda (Powell, Ohio/Bishop Watterson) narrowly missed scoring on a header from just outside the right corner of the goal in that first overtime, but after that, NU was in control.
The play was even in the second extra session until Mitchell scored.
Ashland had a 14-12 edge in shots and led in corner kicks, 7-4. Nolan had six saves and NU keeper Johannes Sterobo had six saves.
AU will host Findlay on Sunday (Sept. 23, 2 p.m.).
AU
MSOC/ALK
