Men's Soccer 08-09

Kevin Donahue

In a defensive match at Barclay-Thomsen Field, the Denison men's soccer team battled North Coast Athletic Conference foe Allegheny College to a 0-0 double overtime draw on Saturday afternoon in Granville. DU is now 4-3-3 overall and 1-0-1 in league play.

Both squads had solid scoring opportunities throughout the contest. In the early stages of the game, sophomore Tyler Dolanch (Monogahela, Pa./Ringgold) headed a cross just outside of the right goal post. The Gators flexed their offensive muscle for the major of the first half, but failed to find the back of the net. Allegheny outshot the Big Red 7-2 in the opening period.

In the second half, the Gators had scoring chances generated by Nate Yates, Pete Subasic and Tom Ludwig but DU goalkeeper Kevin Donahue (Riverside, Conn./Greenwich) gathered all shots that came his way.

One of the Big Red's best scoring chances in regulation came with just under 11 minutes left. Junior Peter Shorten (Hudson, Ohio/Western Reserve Academy) took a ball off teammate Ish Ghodbane's (Olivette, Mo./Ladue Horton Watkins) chest and tried to slip it into the goal, but AC keeper Edwin Niederberger made the save along the right post.

After a lackluster first overtime session, the two teams picked up play in hopes of taking home the victory. Two minutes into the second extra session, Yates settled a ball at the top of the box and fired a shot but it was corralled by Donahue. With four minutes left in the contest Shorten unloaded a shot that could have ended the match but Niederberger made an outstanding save to preserve the tie.

The Gators ended the contest with a 17-14 advantage in shots. Donahue collected eight saves en route to his first shutout of the sesaon while Niederberger made five stops.

Denison returns to action on Friday (Oct. 10) when they travel to NCAC rival Ohio Wesleyan. Game time is slated for 7:30 p.m.