By Nicholas Huenefeld/Owens Sports Information
Toledo, Ohio---The No. 17 Owens Community College men's soccer team battled to a 2-2 draw today in double overtime against Morton College, who came into the game undefeated.
Morton's College's Maxwell Ejiogu took a pass just outside the box at the 24:03 mark and beat Owens goalkeeper Ryan Wicher (Whitmer/Toledo, Ohio) to the right side of the net for the game's first goal.
Then, late in the first half, Nathan Francis (Lake/Walbridge, Ohio) battled his teammate Cooper Huslig (Mountain View/Tucson, Ariz.) for a ball and headed it over Morton College's goalkeeper, Brandon Silvera, to tie the game heading into halftime. The goal came off a corner kick from Ahmad Jarrar (Hendersonville/Hendersonville, N.C.), who picked up his third assist of the season.
Nine minutes into the second half, Ejiogu struck again. He took a pass off an indirect kick from Alessandro Juarez and headed the ball in as the Panthers went up 2-1.
Minutes later, though, Joseph Adby (York College/York, North Yorkshire, England) scored for the second straight game to tie it up at the 57:40 mark. Jarrar put the ball in play off a corner kick, Bjion Campbell (Coconut Creek/Margate, Fla.) chipped it behind himself, a Morton College defender headed the ball out and Adby right footed it into the left corner of the net past Silveri.
Neither team was able to score the rest of regulation, although each team had chances. In both 10 minute overtime periods, Owens controlled the vast majority of chances, but weren't able to put one in against Morton. Silveri came out and made a nice save on a near goal by Jarrar to end the first overtime.
Adby, who didn't produce a point last year, now has three goals, along with an assist this year. Francis, meanwhile, had his first collegiate goal today. He picked up his first collegiate assist in the team's last game against Lakeland.
Wicher made five saves in goal, while Silveri had seven. Both played the entire 110 minute match.
Owens is now 4-1-1 this year heading into their big rematch against No. 7 Cincinnati State Technical and Community College (5-2) tomorrow at 1 p.m. The match will be held at Owens. Cincinnati State defeated Owens 2-1 earlier this season, although Owens out-shot them 16-8.
Morton College is now 6-0-2 this year.