WILMINGTON, Ohio — Marietta College and Wilmington College battled to a 1-1 double overtime draw Saturday (Oct. 16) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's soccer action. The Pioneers move to 4-6-2 overall and 1-2-2 in the OAC, while the Quakers are 10-0-3 on the season and 3-0-2 in league play.
"If you had said to me before the game 'will you be okay with a tie?' I would have said yes. Against an unbeaten, regionally ranked team? Heck yes," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "But when you have the lead and are managing the game it's a bit heartbreaking. Credit to the boys for righting the ship and playing well in overtime."
Reggie Grayek (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary College Prep.) gave Marietta the lead in the 41st minute. Grayek took a direct kick from the top of the box and managed to sneak it past the Quaker wall and into the back of the net for the goal.
Wilmington turned up the intensity on offense in the second half and Marietta's back line continued to frustrate the Quakers forwards. Wilmington finally broke through with the equalizer in the 85th minute.
Brady Vilvens' header was saved by Pioneer keeper
Ryan Riccillo (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak). But Yusef Muqtadir was there to put the deflection into the back of the net leveling the match, 1-1.
Neither team scored in either of the two overtime periods. Wilmington had two shots in each extra period, while the Pioneers were held without a shot in overtime.
Riccillo went the distance in goal for the Pioneers and recorded seven saves in the match. Fleix Maurer also played all 110 minutes in goal and posted three saves for the Quakers.
"Overall, I am happy with our performance," Bergin said. "It's a hard place to play. I think the coaching staff would agree with me when I say I can see us sorting things out and starting to play better."
Marietta returns home to host Mount Union on Wednesday (Oct. 20). Kickoff is set for 7 p.m. at Marietta Field.
Fans can follow all the Pioneer teams all year long at
pioneers.marietta.edu. You can also follow the Pioneers on Facebook at
facebook.com/MariettaCollege and @MariettaPioneer on Twitter and Instagram.
