FIT Men’s Soccer Plays to 1-1 Draw at Eckerd
By Space Coast Daily // September 20, 2012
mens soccer
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA– Florida Tech took a 1-0 halftime lead, but Eckerd earned a penalty kick in the 58th minute to tie the game at 1-1. The teams, unable to find a third goal, ended in a 1-1 draw through 110 minutes of play at Turley Athletic Complex on Wednesday.
“It is a tough one to accept, to come out with a draw,” head coach Robin Chan said.
“But at the same time it is still moving us forward in the right direction.
We have four points [in conference play] now, and it is important to get points at this stage of the season.”
Aupais gave FIT the lead
In the 32nd minute, FIT (4-0-2, 1-0-1 SSC) broke the scoreless drought. Yannis Pele sent a perfect through-pass from midfield that went between two Eckerd (2-3-1, 0-1-1 SSC) defenders.
Racing past the defenders, Antoine Aupiais collected the ball.
The Tritons’ goalkeeper then made a late decision to go towards Aupiais.
With a flick of the ball, Aupiais chipped it over the keeper and into the goal to give the Panthers a 1-0 lead.
FIT took the lead into the break.
The game began to get physical in the second half.
In the 58th minute, Eckerd sent a cross into FIT’s 18-yard box. Two players jumped up for the ball, a Panther and a Triton.
Eckerd gets a penalty kick and ties the game
Then the whistle blew on what appeared to be a foul that could have gone either way. The call went in favor of Eckerd, awarding the Tritons with a penalty kick.
Eckerd’s Matt Duffy capitalized on the kick to tie the game at 1-1.
FIT controlled possession through the remainder of the half, outshooting the Tritons by a margin of 8-3.
With 37 second remaining in regulation, John Bocinsky hit the far post before time expired to send the game into overtime.
Neither team recorded a shot in the first overtime, forcing a second 10-minute session.
The Panthers controlled play in the second overtime, holding a 3-0 margin in shots. With seven seconds remaining, Drake Hillman sent in a shot that was blocked.
Then time expired to end the game in a 1-1 draw, giving both teams a point in the conference standings.
FIT returns home on Saturday, Sept. 22 when it hosts Saint Leo. The Panthers and Lions will meet at 1:30 p.m.
Live stats and audio will be available at http://bit.ly/P60qNL.
Box Score: http://www.floridatechsports.
