MEN’S SOCCER

The Forester men’s soccer team had to settle for a 3-3 double overtime stalemate Saturday afternoon in their home opener against Marian (0-2-1, 0-1-1) at King Stadium.

After dominating the first half to take a 2-0 lead into intermission, the Foresters watched their advantage slip away less than eight minutes into the second frame. In true Forester form, Lawson’s crew battled back to reclaim the lead at the 62:11 mark on Kyle Williams’ blast into the roof off a corner.

Being down again didn’t deflate the Knights. They continued to pressure their hosts and the pay-off came with five minutes left in regulation when they picked up a foul in the box to secure a PK that James Jenkins put away for his second goal of the day. His first was the equalizer in the 53rd minute for the 2-2 deadlock.

HU’s first goal in the 17th minute developed when Camden Dice played a ball into the top of the box that found Pablo Garcia who sent it into far side netting. Less than ten minutes later, the hosts were back at it. This time Eric Ocock slotted a ball to Noah Stanford for the picture perfect tap in.

While it was a tale of two halves, neither team could gain any sort of advantage in the OTs to make for the final deadlock. Huntington fired off four shots in the two extra periods with none closer than James Lighton’s blast that ricocheted off the post inside a minute to go in the final OT.

“I thought our first half was fantastic and despite the opening ten minutes of the second half, we are showing signs of development,” noted Coach Lawson. “We had a nice response with Kyle’s rocket after Marian drew level.

“However, we are never satisfied with dropping points and we will have to be better for our next opponent.”

HU finished with 18 shots to Marian’s 12. Gabe Greenfield spent 110 minutes in frame to claim the tie. The junior keeper tallied four saves.

The Foresters (1-0-1, 1-0-1) hit the road on Wednesday to take on Grace at 7:00 p.m.