Last-Minute Penalty Kick Leads Gators to Tie
MEADVILLE, Pa. – A 90th minute penalty kick by senior forward David DelGreco helped Allegheny men's soccer to a 2-2 tie against Wittenberg Saturday at Frank B. Fuhrer Field.
Both goals on the afternoon were scored by DelGreco, who leads the team with five goals and 11 points. DelGreco's first goal came in the 12th minute, as the senior rocketed home a rebound from Chris Brennan, which Wittenberg goalkeeper Jeff Mengerink was able to block but not hold onto. DelGreco found the ball on the left side and sent the ball to the back of the net.
Allegheny (6-1-1) took a 1-0 advantage to the second half, but Wittenberg tied the game at 1-1 in the 57th minute off of a penalty kick. The Tigers (4-3-2) would then take the lead with another penalty kick in the 86th minute. Daniel Broidy scored on both penalty attempts for the Tigers.
With the Gators rushing down the field and time running low, Wittenberg committed a foul inside the box with 31 seconds remaining in regulation. Allegheny was awarded the penalty as DelGreco stepped up to take the kick. The senior deposited the ball in the net, beating the goalkeeper to the right post to tie the game at 2-2 with less than a minute in regulation.
In the extra session, senior forward Tyler Danzey had two solid opportunities in the final minute of the first overtime session, but could not find the back of the net. In the second session, Danzey found senior Chris Brennan on several crosses, but Brennan was not able to end the game with a decisive goal. A last-gasp corner kick attempt by sophomore midfielder Cameron Olson was swallowed up by Mengerink as the Tigers ran out the clock.
Junior goalkeeper John Lichina tied a season-high with eight saves.
The Gators have a quick turnaround to prepare for Sunday's match-up with Berry College at Washington, Pa. The Vikings, ranked No. 17 in the most recent NSCAA DIII poll, suffered their first loss of the season, 1-0, against Washington & Jefferson on Saturday.
