Men's Soccer News

HAWKS SCORE IN FINAL MINUTE TO DEFEAT ROCKVILLE

September 6, 2005 - In a thrilling come from behind win, the CSM men's soccer team scored twice in the final four minutes to defeat Rockville 2-1.  Trailing 1-0 with less then 4:00 left, Blake Messmore's throw-in went right to the front of the net.  Rockville goalkeeper Marc Crumpler was unable to clear the ball, and Mike Mitchell was able to tip the ball past him during the wild scramble in front of the net.  Then, with time running out and overtime looming, Blake Messmore placed another throw in right in front of the Rockville goal, and this time Dan Heaney was able to tip the ball past Crumpler to give the Hawks the winning goal with just :28.9 left on the clock.

    It was a match-up between two of MDJUCO's strongest teams, with Rockville (1-2-2, 0-1) the defending Division III champions, and CSM
(3-0-1, 1-0-1) the 2003 Division I Region XX Champions.  It was a defensive struggle for most of the first half, with most of the play in mid-field, and neither team able to generate good scoring chances. 

    The first shot of the game ended up a goal for the Knights.  With CSM keeper Michael Shifflet out of the net, Gafar Kadrick's high looping shot made it over his head and nestled in the net to give Rockville a 1-0 lead.  Neither side was able to muster much offense, as each team only had two shots on goal during the first half.

    The action picked up in the second half, with CSM dominating the first five minutes of the second half, but unable to get any quality scoring chances. 

    With 37:56 left, Rockville's Romaine Thompson sent a blistering shot at the Hawk net, but CSM keeper Michael Shiftlet made a diving save to keep the Hawks within one at 1-0.  Later Kadrik had two quality shots, but again Shiftlet was able to turn them away.

    Dario Paul had several chances for the Hawks, narrowly missing on a header, and Crumpler deflecting another shot. 

    With 16:49 left in the game, Rockville's Yael-Phylis Amvame was ejected (red card) for a rough tackle, forcing the Knights to play short handed for the remainder of the game.  For the first six minutes, Rockville was able to keep CSM at bay, even pressing the attack into the Hawks zone, but with 10:00 left, CSM begin to put the pressure on, leading to the final last minute heroics.

    The Hawks will hit the road for contests at Essex, N.J., and Hagerstown, before participating in the Essex, Md. classic the weekend of September 17-18, The next home game will be against rival P.G., on September 21 at 3:30 PM.