Nov. 4, 2008
Box Score
NEWARK, N.J. - Sophomore Andreas Kustas scored the game-tying goal with less than nine minutes remaining as the Lafayette men's soccer team finished in a 1-1 tie against NJIT on Tuesday night. The overtime game was the Leopards' eighth of the season and extended their unbeaten streak to six matches.
Lafayette out-shot the Highlanders by an 18-14 mark, including 13 in the second half. Goalie Andrew Pianko made nine saves for the Leopards, whose overall record moves to 8-5-4. Six players had multiple shots in the game, led by Steve Ference's three.
The game seemed headed to a scoreless tie at halftime as both teams could not put the ball in the net. Lafayette was aggressive early, taking two shots less than six minutes into the action. Pianko came up with several saves to keep NJIT off the scoreboard but with 37 seconds remaining in the opening period, Eddie Romero went one-on-one with Pianko who could not stop the shot as the Highlanders took the 1-0 lead.
The Leopards continued their aggressive play on offense with 13 second-half shots. They kept NJIT goalie Ryan Sutherland on alert, as he made five saves in the half. With less than nine minutes to play things finally fell Lafayette's way when Kustas received a pass from Ference in the center of the box and fired a shot from 15 yards out that went past Sutherland to knot the game at one.
NJIT had two chances to end the game in the first overtime period, but Pianko made a save on Chico Lugo's shot and Dylan Broadley's shot went wide, forcing a second overtime period.
Defense dominated the final overtime period with Romero taking the only shot as the game ended in the 1-1 tie.
The Leopards are back in action this weekend when they host Patriot League foe Holy Cross on Saturday at 1 p.m. in their regular season finale. The fourth and final spot in the Patriot League Tournament will be decided during this final weekend of conference action. Lafayette's five seniors will be honored prior to the start of the match.
