Men's Soccer News

MEN'S SOCCER DEFEATS HOWARD 5-4 IN OVERTIME

September 8, 2006 - The CSM men's soccer team came from behind, scoring with just 1:20 left in regulation to tie the game at 3-3 and force overtime.  Guil Costa scored the tying goal off a direct kick, as he arched the ball past Dragon goalkeeper C.J. Ruiez and found the back of the net.

     In MDJUCO overtime consists of two 10:00 periods, with no "golden goals".  In the first overtime with 4:00 left, Hawk keeper Bobby Slater made a great diving save, just getting one hand on the ball and pushing it aside, as Howard threatened to break on top first.  With 2:33 left, the Hawks took the lead as Brandon Gross received a pass from Dan Heaney, and squeezed the ball in the right corner of the net from 15 yards out, putting the Hawks up 4-3.

      In the second overtime, Guil Costa got the game winner with 6:19 left, receiving a cross from Brandon Gross to net his second goal of the day, and give CSM a 5-3 advantage.  Gross, who is averaging two goals a game, also finished with two goals to go with his assist. 

     Oscar DeVilla scored for Howard to cut the Hawk lead to 5-4, causing some anxious moments over the final minutes, but the CSM defense was able to keep Howard at bay.

     CSM (4-2, 1-0) dominated most of the first half, and had three early scoring chances but couldn't cash in.  Brandon Gross broke in on the right side but Howard keeper C.J. Ruiez made a diving stop to rob Gross of a goal.  Jorge Lopez had an excellent shot off a direct kick forcing Ruiez to make a leaping save, and Adam Chase shot high on an open net.

     The Hawks finally broke through with 4:00 left in the first half when Justin Daniels found net after an excellent pass from AJ Sweeney off a corner kick, putting CSM in front 1-0.

     The lead was short lived, as Ian Selsky knotted the score at 1-1, scoring after a wild scramble in front of the Hawk goal with just 2:26 left in the half.

     Howard (2-4, 1-1) took the lead 2-1 as they scored the  first goal of the second half when Patrick Corbett scored after another scramble in front of the CSM goal just four minutes into the half.

     Some beautiful passing tied the score at 2-2 for the Hawks, as Dan Heaney fed Jorge Lopez 30 yards from goal on the left side, and Lopez made a superb pass to Brandon Gross, who scored from 14 yards out with 34:21 left in the second half.

      The Dragons picked up the it intensity after the tying goal, and for the first time in the game begin to consistently press the attack in the Hawks zone.  The pressure paid off, as Oscar Devilla scored the first of his two goals with 7:15 left to give Howard a 3-2 lead, setting up Guil Costa's heroics to tie the game with 1:20 left in regulation. 

     "It wasn't the prettiest win, but we showed heart and didn't quit" said Head Soccer Coach Tony Galeano.

     The Hawks are off until Thursday, when they play at Rockville in another important conference game.  The Hawks next home game will be on Saturday, September 16, when they face Hagerstown at 2:00 PM.  The game will be part of a full day of sports action at CSM's Fall Festival.