MARIETTA, Ohio —
Reggie Grayek (Shavertown, Pa./Wyoming Seminary College Prep.) scored eight minutes into the second overtime period as Marietta defeated Chatham, 2-1, Saturday (Sept. 25) evening in men's soccer action. The Pioneers head into conference play with a 3-4-1 record. Chatham falls to 3-3-1 on the season.
"We took their best shot in the first half and we had an honest conversation at halftime about what we needed to do to get level," Marietta head coach
Joe Bergin said. "I felt that in the second half a goal was coming and when Dave (Beattie) leveled it, we took off from there. Credit to the boys for their relentless effort in the second half and OT. OAC play starts next week and we will need this type of effort to be successful."
Despite dominating possession the entire match, Marietta found itself in a battle. Chatham goalkeeper Trevor Rose turned away shot after shot frustrating the Pioneer forwards.
The Cougars got an unassisted goal from Franco Ibanez in the 16th minute to take the early lead.
After falling behind, Marietta turned up the pressure on the Chatham defense. The Pioneers fired off 15 first half shots, but Rose made nine saves in the first 45 minutes to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead at halftime.
Most of the second half was played in Chatham defensive end of the pitch. Marietta took 16 shots in the second half and finally got the equalizer in the 72nd minute. Chatham was whistled for a foul giving the Pioneers a free kick from 25 yards out.
Gavin Long (Surrey, United Kingdom/John Fisher School) took the free kick from the right side and placed the ball inside the 6-yard box where
Dave Beattie (Russell, Ohio/West Geauga) headed it inside the near post for his second goal of the season.
Invigorated by the Beattie goal, Marietta stayed on the attack. Long just missed the game winner in regulation when he bounced a shot off the left post in the 84th minute.
The match headed into overtime tied at one. The Pioneers outshot Chatham 31-14 in regulation. Rose posted 12 saves in the first 90 minutes including several shots from point blank range.
Marietta switched keepers at halftime replacing
Joey Backhaus (Canfield, Ohio/Canfield) with
Ryan Riccillo (Canton, Ohio/GlenOak). Backhaus had five saves in the opening period, while Riccillo notched three saves, all in the second half, for the win.
Overtime was totally controlled by the Pioneers. Marietta outshot Chatham 8-1 in extra time, but once again Rose was kept the Cougars in the match making five saves in OT.
Grayek ended the match in the 109th minute.
Caden Ferguson (Mars, Pa./Mars Area) crossed the ball to Grayek on the right side of the box. Grayek gathered the ball and fired a laser from 12-yards out inside the right post for the game winner. It was Grayek's fourth goal of the season.
Marietta opens Ohio Athletic Conference play at Ohio Northern on Saturday (Oct. 2) at 7 p.m.
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.
