CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – 110 minutes of soccer was not enough to decide a winner as Lesley University and Wentworth Institute of Technology settle for a 1-1 draw in double-overtime in a non-conference bout this evening at Edward Field. The tie moves the Lynx to 1-7-1 on the season while the Leopards go to 6-2-3 overall.
Lesley will return to their home field on Sunday when they host Rivier University at 12:00p while Wentworth will be back in action and host Western New England University on Saturday. Kickoff for that matchup is set for 3:00p.
The Lynx took a 1-0 lead in the first half goal by Nuno Pereira (Dorchester, Mass.). The junior settled a touch-pass from freshman Angel Ruiz (Phoenix, Ariz.) at the top of the 18-yard box and fired a right-footed blast into the top right corner of the net for his third tally of the season. Tonight marked the second consecutive match Pereira found the back of the net after scoring against Regis College last Sunday.
Wentworth had a myriad of opportunities in the opening 45-minutes as they outshot their hosts by a 10-3 margin and had a 4-1 edge on corner kick opportunities. The Leopards best chance came off a corner kick in the 40th minute. Junior Emmett Basaca (San Diego, Calif.) sent a cross into the box where freshman Diego Panayotti (San Pdero Sula, Honduras) connected for a header that clanged off the crossbar. Wentworth would muster another shot out of a scrum in the front of the net, but the chance sailed wide of the cage.
The Leopards would finally break through after intermission in the 57th minute of play. Junior Emmett Basaca (San Diego, Calif.) sent a free kick into the Lynx box that allowed sophomore Noah Martins (Dartmouth, Mass.) to send a header into the far right side of the goal to even the match at 1-1.
Martins would nearly connect for a game-winner in the final minute of play as he raced behind the Lesley backline, possessed a free ball at the top of the box, and fired a shot that trickled just right of the near side post.
Lesley's best chance in the overtime period came off the foot of Ruiz who charged down the middle of the field and blasted a right-footed shot from 20-yards, but Leopards keeper Joe Schallmo (Norwood, Mass.) was there to make the stop.
The Wentworth offense continued to pepper the net in the second overtime period. Their best chance to end it came when junior Michael Zendan (Charlotte, N.C.) dribbled to his right and drove a laser at the Lesley cage, however junior goalie James Webb (San Francisco, Calif.) tipped the ball off the crossbar and out before the defense cleared the ensuing corner kick.
The Leopards possessed the ball for the majority of the evening and outshot the Lynx by a 24-4 margin while holding a 15-3 edge in corner kicks. The match was a physical one that was riddled with stoppages as the teams combined for 38 fouls and seven yellow cards.
Webb was outstanding in between the pipes for the Lynx, making seven total saves including four in extra time. Schallmo made one stop on the night for the visitors.