FREDONIA, N.Y. -- The Fredonia State men's soccer team produced its second tie in three games this season. However, the two games were completely different stories. They played to a 0-0 final with Ithaca to open the season, but on Friday evening, they had a wild 5-5 tie with Houghton in the first match of the Blue Devil Classic at University Stadium. This following a 7-1 offensive outburst vs. Chatham earlier in the week. The Devils now have 12 goals in their past two games.
"That's was one of the most bizarre but entertaining games I have ever been a part of," said head coach
P.J. Gondek.
Things did not look promising early on. The Highlanders came out firing with three-straight goals. Alex Kaviloda rocketed shot in the upper right corner in the 21st minute. He scored again nine minutes later on a rebound off a free kick.
Andy Loomis scored the third goal off an assist from Kaviloda, making it 3-0 Highlanders.
Freshman Lee Harte got the Devils on the board when an
Andres Martinez shot rebounded to him from about seven yards out, drilling it past the keeper.
The Devils'
Brian Taylor closed the first-half scoring on a penalty kick with two minutes left, making it a 3-2 match at the break.
The teams traded goals early in the second half. Following a corner kick, the ball bounced around and Steward eventually corralled it to make it a 3-3 game 5:24 into the half.
The tie was short lived as Houghton's Tobias Webb answered just under a minute later as the Highlanders regained the lead, 4-3.
Fredonia State would keep up the offense. Off a a throw in from Hartke,
Chance LaCroix knocked in the game's eighth goal, tying things at 4-all.
With just over five minutes remaining, the Devils claimed their first lead of the game.
Jacob Vallas drilled the go-ahead score on an assist by Taylor.
Unfortunately for the Devils, Houghton was given their own penalty-kick opportunity and tied the game 5-all.
Goaltender
Tanner Stutzman was credited with five saves and five goals against for the Blue Devils. Sam Carpenter produced identical numbers in goal for Houghton.
The Devils had 19 shots on goal to Houghton's 14. Corner kicks were 7-3 in favor of the Devils.
"Suffice it to say we were very good at some things" said Gondek, "and other areas need work. Credit to Houghton. I like their team. Tomorrow is another day and another opponent awaits."
The Devils are back in action vs. Geneva at 3:00 p.m. Buffalo State takes on Houghton at the same time at the turf field. Buffalo State topped Geneva, 5-0, in the early game on Saturday.
