Despite a lack of scoring, there was no lack of drama in Eastern Mennonite’s scoreless draw with visiting Wesley Saturday afternoon. The contest featured 35 shots, four cards, including one red, and a saved penalty kick, although neither team could find the back of the net.
The game was played as part of the two-day EMU/BC Soccer Classic, with Bridgewater downing DeSales 1-0 down the road. The two Harrisonburg-area rivals will swap opponents on Sunday, with the overall champion title still in play for all four teams. The winner will be named based on record, with tie breakers of goals for and goals allowed.
Eastern Mennonite hosts DeSales at 3:00pm, following a field hockey contest, while the Eagles get Wesley at 2:00pm.
Early on, the Wolverines seemed to have an edge, at one point firing seven shots in a span of just over seven minutes. Matthew Overacker(Mount Crawford, Va./Turner Ashby) made four saves during that stretch alone and finished with 10 in the game.
Play got more and more physical as the teams failed to score, including a red card on Wesley in the 84th minute. Playing a man up favored the Royals, as they held a 3-1 advantage in shots over the final 35 minutes.
Their best chance to score came with 6:11 left in double overtime when the Wolverines were whistled for a hand ball in the box. But Joshua Chiquillo (Woodbridge, Va./Gar-Field) had his PK stopped by Wesley’s keeper. EMU made one final flurry in the closing second, but Hunter Sampson‘s (Salem, Va./Salem) shot was blocked inside.
Dominic Powers (Culpeper, Va./Fiesta Valley) had three shots in the game, with Chiquillo and Parker Leap (Harrisonburg, Va./Eastern Mennonite) making the only attempts on goal.
Sunday’s date with DeSales is the men’s final home game until Sept. 17.
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Chris Graham
