Men’s Soccer Draws With LMU in Road SAC Match

HARROGATE, Tenn. - The Coker College men's soccer team ended their match on Saturday (Oct. 20) in a 1-1 tie on the road at Lincoln Memorial. The draw brings their record to 5-6-1 and 3-3-1 in South Atlantic Conference competition.

The Cobras took their time to find their feet in the match, and saw little go their way in the opening 45 minutes. In the 33rd minute, the Railsplitters pulled out in front with after the Cobras failed to clear the ball following a corner kick.

The second half saw the Cobras on the back foot once again until around the 80th minute, when momentum shifted towards Coker. Christian Provenzano came close to equalizing, but his effort was just high and hit the crossbar. Just after the shot by Provenzo, Kasper Wallstroem collected the ball and found the back of the net through a host of Railsplitters. Wallstroem's goal was his third on the season. Lincoln Memorial would manage a trio of shots in the final moments of regulation but failed to score, sending the match into overtime.

In the first overtime period Jacob Simonis forced a save out of the Lincoln Memorial keeper, but that would be the closest opportunity for a winner in the first overtime period. With just one minute to play in the period, Justin Watkins made a spectacular save to smother a golden opportunity for the Railsplitters.

The second overtime period would be much of the same as both defenses did well to extinguish any opportunity to attack and the game would end in a 1-1 draw.

Riccardo Ricci and Provenzano led the Coker attack with four and three shots, respectively. Lucas Miquel Castrillo, Steffen Husum, and Wallstroem all tallied two shots, while Robbie Jenkinson, Morgan Ratcliffe, and Simonis each chipped in with one shot. Watkins extended his unbeaten streak as the Coker backstop, which is now at three consecutive matches. Watkins made eight saves between the pipes.

Coker will travel to Wingate on Monday (Oct. 22) for a South Atlantic Conference showdown with the Bulldogs at 7:30 p.m.