Fwd: LATE SECOND HALF GOAL HELPS VIKINGS PLAY ASHFORD TO A DRAW

 

LATE SECOND HALF GOAL HELPS VIKINGS PLAY ASHFORD TO A DRAW

 

Marshall, Mo. (September 24, 2013)- It was a top 10 showdown at Gregg-Mitchell Field Tuesday night as the No. 10 Missouri Valley College men's soccer team hosted No. 5 Ashford University in a non-conference matchup.  The Vikings played much of the game from behind, before tying the game with minutes remaining, and coming away with a 1-1 draw.

 

The Vikings had plenty of opportunities in the first half, getting off ten total shots including eight on goal, but it was Ashford that scored first.  Ashford was awarded a penalty kick at the 30-minute mark, and was able to score on Senior Keeper Josh Wells (Kent, England) to take a 1-0 lead into the halftime break.

 

MVC tried to make a comeback early in the second half, and came within inches of tying the game when a shot by Junior Forward Tiago Ferreira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) hit the crossbar less than four minutes after the restart.  Both teams had chances on goal throughout the second half, but MVC was able to get one late chance, and made it count.  Senior Forward Alberto Linan Gomez (Seville, Spain) came away with a loose ball, and poked it past the charging Ashford keeper into goal, tying the game at 1-1 with less than five minutes remaining in regulation.

 

The overtime periods saw both teams have chances on goal, and with only seconds remaining in the second overtime Ashford hit the post, but neither team could find the game winning goal, and things ended in a 1-1 draw.

 

The Vikings outshot Ashford 25 to 24, and had 16 shots on goal, compared to Ashford's 13 shots.  Wells only allowed the penalty kick, but came up with a season-high nine saves.  Gomez scored his third goal of the season and moved his point total on the year to 11.

 

The Vikings move to 6-1-1, while Ashford now has a 6-2-1 record.

 

Up next for the Vikings is a road matchup with Heart of America Athletic Conference foe Avila University in Kansas City, Mo. to open up conference play.  Game time Saturday is scheduled for 3:30 p.m.

 

 

About Missouri Valley College

Known for its dynamic, richly diverse, and friendly educational environment, Missouri Valley College offers many opportunities to grow in mind, body, and spirit. Grounded in the liberal arts, undergraduate studies empower students to master interdisciplinary skills needed to succeed in a knowledge-based global society. MVC offers over 40 academic programs, study abroad program, honors program, extracurricular activities, and 13 sports. The most popular majors include education and business, and some new majors are ag-business, nursing, graphic design, and health information systems (associate degree). Above all, Valley is committed to student success. For more information, call (660) 831-4000 or visit www.moval.edu.