From Washington University Athletics
The No. 9-ranked Washington University in St. Louis men's soccer team rallied from a two-goal deficit at half to record a 3-3 double overtime tie at No. 7 University of Rochester in a battle of top-10 teams in the University Athletic Association (UAA) opener Saturday in Rochester, N.Y.
WashU played with a man down for the final 95 minutes of play.
WashU fell to 6-0-1, 0-0-1 in the UAA, while Rochester dropped to 7-0-2, 0-0-1 in UAA play.
"Our guys fought so hard tonight. The guys felt fine at halftime and knew we were still in the game," said WashU head coach Joe Clarke. "We got some chances and competed. We capitalized on some opportunities. I would have loved to get a win, but this game is going to bond this team."
The Yellowjackets jumped ahead quickly on a penalty kick in the 15th after a red card to senior goalkeeper Daniel Geanon, and then on an own goal by the Bear defense in the 23rd minute. Rochester has three chances in the first six minutes, but could not add the insurance goal.
WashU got on the scoreboard in the 56th minute to trim the lead to 2-1. Graduate student Jack West delayed on a free kick from the left wing, and then drove it to the back post. The ball bounced off a couple of players and sophomore Ryan Sproule got to it and knocked it back the other way where junior Nick Knight put it in the back of the net.
West was in the middle of WashU's equalizer. He broke down right wing with senior Grant Baltes in the slot. Baltes played the ball out to him, then kept going forward. West drove a low pass through traffic which Baltes turned inside the left post.
Ben Swanger broke the tie for Rochester at 83:27, and then West lofted a pass into the penalty area Knight to head it into the top left corner. The two-goal effort for Knight was the first of his career.
Senior goalkeeper Nick Tannenbaum made a huge save in the first overtime off a shot from a free kick six yards out the box on the left to keep the game tied. Tannenbaum (4-0-1) made a career-high six saves in 95:17 after replacing Geanon.
Rochester outshot WashU 19-14 and had an 8-3 advantage on corner kicks.
WashU steps out of conference play to take on Fontbonne University (1-8-1) on Tuesday, Oct. 4. Game time is set for 8 p.m. at Clayton High School.
BEAR NOTEBOOK: Rochester leads the all-time series with WashU, 15-9-11 … This was the 10th match between the two teams that went to OT … The Bears entered the game as the only team in all of NCAA that had not allowed a goal … The goal for Baltes was his first of the season and eighth of his career.