From our friends at UDC Athletics...
Man Down Proves Lethal, Resulting in Tough Loss Against Mercyhurst in Home Opener
The
District of Columbia men's soccer team led the field 2-1 going into half-time, but a twist of events led to a tough overtime loss to
Mercyhurst in home opener.
With the stands packed with fans for their first home game, the Firebirds were fired up and ready to go; but so was Mercyhurst, as both teams looked to bring home what would be a second win of the season. Fouls were called on both UDC and Mercyhurst within the first two minutes, setting the precedence of what would turn out to be an intense match up.
Senior forward
Malik Thom scored the first goal of the game, a little over 11 minutes into the first half. 10 minutes later, teammate
Pierre LaNoire would put another shot in the back of the net to put the Firebirds in front, 2-0.
Ian Harris would later put Mercyhurst on the scoreboard with a goal of his own.
With the stakes high and it still being anyone's game, the intensity would only prove to increase going into the second half. Less than two minutes into the half, junior
Jake Bedforth was hit with a red card, leaving the Firebirds to fend off Mercyhurst, with a man down.
Even with this setback, the Firebirds were still on a roll as
Vitor Gomes scored his first goal of the game, assisted by Thom, to put the Firebirds up 3-1. Unfortunately, time wasn't on the Firebirds side, as they still had another 40 minutes to go playing a man down.
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| Vitor Gomes (#17) gave UDC a 3-1 lead with his 2nd goal of the season |
Mercyhurst would eventually bring the score to a 3-3 tie, forcing the game into overtime. A goal by
Connor Wilkinson, less than two minutes into OT secured the game for Mercyhurst.
UDC (1-3) will head to Pennsylvania to face off against
Slippery Rock on Wednesday, September 18th.
Click here for yesterday's box score.
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| Mercyhurst GK Martin Jarc (#1) stops a shot from Thomas Cecil |
