NO. 15 TIGERS SCORE TWICE LATE AGAINST GSU TO AVOID FIRST CCAC LOSS

CROWN POINT, Ind. – The No. 15 Olivet Nazarene University men's soccer team scored twice in the final minutes to avoid their first Chicagoland Collegiate Athletic Conference loss of the season to Governors State ending in a 2-2 draw Wednesday night. Benjamin Stuebelt netted the first goal while Fabio Halser scored the equalizer in the comeback.

In a tightly contested first half, neither team could conjure the first goal of the night. Justin Eisenmann had the first good look of the half in the 5^th minute of play. Max Jasper flicked a ball beyond the Jaguars' backline for the attacker from Germany to chase. The GSU netminder closed the space denying the goalscoring opportunity. The home team responded with their best scoring chance in the early moments of the game. Peter Sorich placed a shot on frame, but Mike Giannotta was positioned well to make the save in the 10^th minute of play.

The best scoring opportunity of the period developed in the 24^th minute following Nick Kilian being brought down inside the penalty box resulting in the center official awarding a penalty kick. Jasper stepped up to take the spot-kick, but his effort went wide of the right post. Both teams were level on shot attempts with five as the two programs went into the break scoreless.

Halftime: No. 15 Olivet Nazarene 0, Governors State 0

A slower start to the second half began to heat up as Governors State hit the woodwork. In the 57^th minute, Carlos Morales curled a shot that hit the top right corner of the goal frame. The Jaguars' pressure paid off in the 59^th minute as Giannotta made a block on an initial GSU shot, but could not keep out the follow-up from Julian Herrero Corrales as the home team took the 1-0 lead.

As the Tigers continued to push for the equalizer, GSU hit ONU on the counter to double the lead in the 76^th minute. Morales scored his second goal of the match as he was first to a loose ball in the penalty box. Struebelt brought the Tigers within one as a quick corner kick taken by Jasper to Kilian found its way to the attacker in front of the goal in the 87^th minute. Olivet leveled the score in miraculous fashion 49 seconds later as a miss clearance from the Governors State backline fell to Hasler for the finish. Time ran out and both teams settled for the draw.

GAME VITALS

Final: No. 15 Olivet Nazarene 2, Governors State 2

Records: Olivet Nazarene: 12-0-2 (8-0-2 CCAC) | Governors State 7-3-5 (6-1-3 CCAC)

Location: Crown Point Sports Complex| Governors State University | Crown Point, Ind.

QUICK HITS

• Struebelt has scored three goals in his last two appearances.
• Hasler has now tallied eight points in his last five matches.
• Giannotta tied a season-high with eight saves on the night.

WHAT'S NEXT?

The Tigers return to Snowbarger to take on Holy Cross next Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. Please visit onutigers.com for all the links to follow along.

—ONU—

*Contact: Patrick Kaindl, Sports Information Graduate Assistant, pkaindl@olivet.edu