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Acaster’s Late Goal Helps Panthers To 1-1 Draw In Season Finale

Photo by Erika Helo
Photo by Erika Helo

BUFFALO, N.Y. – The University of Pittsburgh at Bradford men's soccer team worked a 1-1 draw in its regular season finale at D'Youville Tuesday in an Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference match.

"We played close to the best we played all season," Head Coach Nathan Whitehurst said. "We got a quick answer right after D'Youville scored late and then just couldn't find the goal in overtime to win it."

The two teams battled and took a scoreless tie late in the game. 

With just 11 minutes remaining in regulation, D'Youville broke the silence as a cross into the box made its way in close and set up a point-blank strike. 

But the Panthers – hungry to force overtime – pressed on, and eventually found the equalizer.

At the 81:57 mark, Michael Giopulos lofted a pass across the box and found Ethan Acaster's head, which sent the ball past the keeper to tie the game.

The Panthers held off one final D'Youville corner kick in regulation and forced overtime.

Pitt-Bradford fired a pair of shots in the first overtime period with a shot on goal by Noah Black that was saved, sending both teams into a second OT. 

D'Youville fired two shots while the Panthers shot once in the second overtime but neither team was able to put one on goal and the 1-1 tie held. 

In total, the Panthers fired 10 shots with four going on goal. Acaster, Black, Colin Irwin and Ryuta Hayakawa each put one shot on goal. 

In goal for the Panthers, Derrick Brock made four saves on the five shots on goal he faced.

The two teams put on a physical match as they were whistled for a combined 25 fouls with three total yellow cards awarded.

With the decision, the Panthers conclude their 2017 season at 3-13-2 overall and 2-6-1 in AMCC matches.