The Ashland University men's soccer team overcame a 2-0 halftime deficit by scoring two second-half goals to pick up a well-earned point with a 2-2 draw at Northern Michigan Sunday (Oct. 14) afternoon in Marquette, Mich.
The Eagles (4-8-2, 3-6-1 GLIAC) are now riding a three-game unbeaten run, scoring seven goals in the three games. All seven have come in the second half or overtime as Ashland has pulled four points ahead of Davenport for the final spot in the GLIAC Tournament.
Northern Michigan's Sam Popp put the home team on the board in the sixth minute and Edgar Astorga added to the lead in the 14th minute as Northern Michigan pulled ahead 2-0.
In the second half, the Eagles were able to finally break through in a game that gradually turned into an end-to-end affair. The teams combined for 37 shots and 11 corner kicks. Twenty-one of the shots were put on target. AU out-shot Northern Michigan, 10-8, in the second half.
The Eagles cut the Wildcats' lead in half in the 63rd minute when freshman Joseph Renner scored his first goal of the season off an assist by sophomore Yusuke Yasumasu.
Just two minutes from full-time, the Eagles found their equalizer as sophomore Justin Libertowski matched Popp for the GLIAC lead in goals with his eighth marker of the season. It came off an assist by junior Fred Francis.
The teams continued to attack in the overtime periods with Ashland out-shooting the Wildcats (6-3-4, 3-2-4 GLIAC) by a 4-3 count in the last 20 minutes, but neither team could find the winner.
Sophomore goalkeeper Dimitrius Karousos made seven saves in the draw, while the AU defense saved two other shots off the line. Valentin Kliebe stopped eight shots for Northern Michigan.
The Eagles will now head to GLIAC-leading Parkside on Friday (Oct. 19) for a noon kickoff as they look to secure a spot in the GLIAC Tournament, and possibly a first-round home game.
AU
MSOC/BB