CHARLESTON, Ill. – Eastern Illinois men's soccer got goals from
Brad Peters and
Mike Lewis, but Drake scored the game's final goal in the 79th minute to salvage a 2-2 draw with the Panthers Wednesday afternoon at Lakeside Field in the Missouri Valley Conference opener for both teams.
It was the third straight draw between the two schools, which have both been ranked in the NSCAA Midwest Top 10 all season. Each of EIU's three draws this season has ended in a 2-2 score.
The Panthers (8-3-3, 0-0-1 MVC) received strong support from the men of Sigma Pi, who erupted when their fraternity brother (Peters) tied the game in the 39th minute with his conference-leading seventh goal of the season.
Lewis looked as though he may have scored the game-winner early in the second half until Drake's Luke Gorczyca headed in the equalizer with 11 minutes remaining in regulation.
Michael Noonan scored the game's first goal in the 10th minute.
Peters and Gorczyca had the best chances to win the game in the second overtime period. Peters lofted a shot over Drake goalkeeper Phillip Breuer's head 30 seconds into the start of the final 10 minutes, only to see it hit the crossbar and deflect away. Gorczyca, meanwhile, got off another solid header that was destined to slip inside the near post until
Nick Alexander dove to his right and knocked the ball out of bounds.
“It was a great game, it went back and forth,” EIU head coach
Adam Howarth said. “The tie in the long run was probably the fairest result. We certainly had a great chance when we hit the crossbar in that overtime, but it wasn't meant to be.”
The Panthers withstood four Drake (7-3-2, 0-0-1 MVC) corner kick opportunities total in the two overtime periods.
All three of Alexander's saves were top notch, with the other two coming on strikes by Garrett Webb. Less than a minute into the game Alexander made a great diving save to his left. Then late in the first half he prevented the Bulldogs from taking a halftime lead by stopping another solid opportunity by Webb from his backside.
“Nick made some big saves today,” Howarth said. “He has proven himself day in and day out. It was a good result for him because he played real well.”
Breuer's top save came shortly before Gorczyca's game-tying goal. Peters found himself one-on-one versus the Drake 'keeper on a run down the left flank after a great spin-and-pass maneuver by Lewis. Breuer was able to slide and deflect away the shot.
Peters scored his 19th career goal and second in Valley play off a double assist from
Adam Gartner and
Jim Adee. He lofted the shot over Breuer's head from the right flank into the opposite side of the net.
Lewis put EIU ahead with his second career goal in the 51st minute. After an initial shot by
Mick Galeski trickled wide, Lewis pounced on the ball near the left-hand post and knocked it into the top of the net. It was the junior's first goal at home and first in Valley play.
“[Lewis] scared me a little bit when he put it right in the top 90,” Howarth said. “But it was a great finish and he had a great game. Mick battled so well and
Brad Peters was a constant threat all day long. And
Jeremy [Maubach] coming back after two weeks out [of the lineup] played real well, too.
Gartner and Galeski both recorded their seventh assist of the season, tying the program record for helpers in the Valley era. This marks the second year in a row that Galeski has registered seven assists. Gartner, meanwhile, has 13 helpers in the last two seasons.
Nick Bonacker,
Patrick Mabeya, Galeski, Gartner and Peters were the EIU field players that went the distance in the draw. Maubach led the reserves with 83 minutes and
Joe Ciucki logged 48 after
Evan Philpott had to leave the game early with a knee injury.
The Panthers return to action Saturday for a 7 p.m. contest at 12th-ranked Creighton.
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