The Ashland University men's soccer team scored just 43 seconds into overtime to beat defending GLIAC champion Parkside, 2-1, in the Spring 2021 season opener on Sunday (March 7) afternoon at Ferguson Field.
Freshman winger
Rafael Pereira sent in a cross from the left side that found redshirt-junior forward
Kieran Paterson unmarked in the six-yard box. Paterson's first shot hit off the keeper, but he was able touch the rebound over the line to give the Eagles all three points.
"I thought we worked hard," said head coach
Nick Roberts, who was coaching his first game with the Eagles. "The first half I thought was pretty even, we got the penalty. The second half they clearly came out to get on top of us and they did. But what I told the guys at halftime was to stay organized. We knew we could hit them on the break."
The Eagles got the opener in the final minute of the first half. On a corner kick, the Rangers were physical in the box and pushed over junior
Haruki Kimura as the ball came in, forcing the referee into making a penalty call.
Junior
Brajdi Cekrezi opened his Ashland account by slotting in calmly with 35 seconds left before halftime.
In the second half, the Rangers equalized through Bryan Torres who tapped in at the far post off a quick, low cross through the box by Rade Novakovich.
Both teams pressed for a winner in regulation with the Rangers trying to play through the lines while the Eagles looked to play on the counter.
In overtime, the Eagles won the ball in the midfield and played it ahead for Pereira to set up the winner.
The Eagles and Rangers were even in shots at eight apiece and Parkside had a 4-2 edge in corner kicks.
The Eagles will return to the pitch for their second game of the conference season next Sunday at 2 p.m. against Purdue Northwest at Ferguson Field.
AU
MSOC/BB
