MARIETTA, Ohio — Marietta College and Heidelberg University played to a 2-2 double overtime draw Saturday (Oct. 9) evening in Ohio Athletic Conference men's soccer action. The Pioneers are 4-5-2 overall and 1-1-1 in the OAC, while Heidelberg moves to 4-6-2 on the season and 0-1-2 in the OAC.
"The game of soccer can be frustrating at times, and this is one of those times. It took going down 2-1 before we woke up and even then, it was for brief moments," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "Yes, the injury list is long but that is too easy of an excuse. The team needs to look at themselves and find the mental fortitude to be successful. College soccer is not easy, and it comes at you fast and we need to be ready to go next week."
The Pioneers took an early led when Heidelberg was whistled for a foul inside the box giving Marietta a penalty kick.
Jacob Roberto (Berea, Ohio/Berea-Midpark) converted the penalty for a 1-0 lead in the 19th minute.
Neither offense threatened much in the opening period and the teams went into halftime with Marietta leading 1-0.
Heidelberg leveled the match in the 51st minute when Marietta's keeper misjudged a ball inside the box. Zack Berg launched a direct kick from near midfield that bounced behind the defenders and in front of keeper
Joey Backhaus (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield). Backhaus came off his line and got caught in no man's land and the ball bounced over his head and into the net.
Five minutes later, Marietta committed a foul in the box giving the Student Princes a penalty kick. Obed Aidoo converted the penalty for a 2-1 Heidelberg lead.
Marietta turned up its intensity on offense and finally broke through in the 74th minute.
Reggie Grayek (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary College Prep.) collected the ball in the 16-yard box and dished the ball to
Caden Ferguson (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) who fired the ball inside the left post for the equalizer.
Neither team was able to create a solid scoring opportunity in either overtime period. There were no shots taken in the first extra 10 minutes and only three shots in the second overtime period, none on goal.
Backhaus recorded one save in goal for the Pioneers, while Sigurd Ilestad had three saves for Heidelberg.
Marietta travels to Capital University on Wednesday (Oct. 13) for a 7 p.m. kickoff.
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.
