The Oswego State men's soccer team scored three goals in the final 10:25 of regulation to force overtime at Alfred University on Wednesday night. Both squads were unable to register a goal in the two, 10-minute overtime periods, finishing the game in a 4-4 tie. With the draw, the Lakers are now 3-2-1 on the year while the Saxons go to 4-1-1.
Oswego's situation looked bleak in the waning moments of regulation, as Richard Lander scored the Saxons' fourth goal of the evening, putting his squad on top of the Lakers 4-1 at 78:57. The Lakers did not shy away from the challenge, starting with Matt Massenzio's penalty-kick goal just 38 seconds later. Less than a minute after the PK score, Oswego's Tim Ritch sent a free kick to the opposite post. Teammate Connor Lunduski buried Ritch's pass in the back of the net for his second goal of the night, cutting the Laker deficit to just one with 9:30 remaining.
Massenzio made his presence known again in the 87th minute, this time in a helping role. The JUNIOR sent a long ball into the box that senior Brian Torchia corralled and sent past the goal line, tallying the equalizer and essentially forcing the contest into extra time.
The Lakers' first goal was another Ritch to Lunduski connection at exactly 25:00.
Not to be lost in a barrage of scoring were the keeper efforts from between the Oswego pipes. Todd Lawson played the game's final 94:58, stopping a career-high 14 shots from Alfred strikers while allowing just three goals.
Oswego will now get eight days to prep for the upcoming SUNYAC slate, which begins at 2 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25 when Oneonta makes its first-ever trip to Laker Turf Stadium. The game will be part of Alumni Weekend for the men's soccer program. Oneonta is receiving two votes in the latest National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Top 25 poll.
