URBANA, Ohio – For the first time this season, Notre Dame College played in an overtime period. The Falcons came back to tie the game in regulation, but their four-game win streak was snapped as they tied Urbana University, 1-1, on Thursday.
Notre Dame's senior
Giulio Bellei had the first good look of the game, taking a shot in 12th minute. Goalkeeper Jakob Henriksen had to dive to make the save for Urbana.
About ten minutes later, following a free kick from midfield that caught Urbana off-guard, senior
Arthur Favero lifted a shot from the 20-yard line that was also saved.
Both teams took five shots in the first half, but the ball did not find netting.
Urbana was on the offensive early in the second half and with about 36 minutes to go, UU's offense took possession and was moving forward quickly. NDC's defense was able to steal and then clear the ball, inside the box.
But the Blue Knights were able to convert on the first goal of the game a few minutes later. The play began with a goal kick by senior
Daniele De Angelis, which was stolen almost immediately by Urbana, at midfield. The home team smoothly sent the ball down the field with good passing. In the box, Cory Carr passed the ball in front of the goal to Luke Nicholls who was open, on the opposite side.
Notre Dame had a chance to tie the game in the 62nd minute. Favero had open shot but the ball hit crossbar and bounced back onto field. The bounce created another shot for junior
Evans Armah, who ran by and headed the ball, but that also hit the crossbar and went over.
The Falcons did knot up the score in the 73rd minute. Off a corner kick, the ball was headed backwards, passed once and then junior
Niklas Ringdahl Bohlin took a shot that dropped just inside the crossbar in the left corner of the goal. Bohlin has now scored in three consecutive games.
In the overtime periods, both teams had decent chances to win the match. With just under three minutes to go in the first stanza of overtime, freshman
Nicholas Felician had a great look. He found an opening in the defense and took a strong shot, but Henriksen dove and looked to get fingertips on the ball, knocking it away.
Henriksen entered the game leading the Mountain East Conference in saves and he had to work to keep NDC's offense limited. He ended the game with seven saves, including three in the second overtime period, when the Falcons took three shots on goal in the span of three minutes.
Thursday night's game marked the first time that the NDC men's soccer program has tied a regular season contest since October 26, 2016, against Concord University.
The Falcons ended the game with 18 shots, eight shots on goal and nine corner kicks. De Angelis recorded three saves.
NDC will come home to play West Liberty University, on October 6. The game is scheduled to begin at 1 p.m.
