Box Score LOS ANGELES, Calif. (Oct. 18, 2010) – As darkness
descended upon the Lower Soccer Field in a game that was
rescheduled when the earlier meeting was called due to lightning,
there were sparks flying once again. A defensive gem ended when
Occidental College freshman Douglas Pentland put
an end to a grueling and physical men's soccer game as the
Tigers defeated the Whittier College Poets 1-0 in the
110th minute of a double-overtime thriller in Southern
California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference play today.
In an evenly matched game that saw 19 shots from each team, five
corner kicks apiece and 44 combined fouls with eight cards, the
Tigers and Poets battled through regulation and the first overtime
scoreless.
With just a minute to play in the second overtime Whittier was
called for a foul allowing the Tigers to set up their play. As
James Kornfield set the ball over a Poets'
wall created by three defenders, a scrum of players in front of the
net. Pentland attempted to head the ball into the net but WC goalie
David Diaz turned it away. Ian Silverness quickly
followed suit but the result was the same as Diaz recorded his
seventh save of the afternoon.
Then came the moment of truth as Pentland fought through a scrum
in front of the Poets cage again heading the ball, this time
finding the back of the net sending the Tigers' bench into a
frenzy.
As the game came to a close, the sun literally set on what was a
thriller in men's soccer.
Today was a total team effort for the Black and Orange. Oxy
goalie Chris Liotta turned away eight Poets'
shots in the game. The defense of Marcus Brandford, Rob
Riccardi, Max Murtaugh and Kosa
Goucher-Lambert kept the Poets off the board while the
midfielders and forwards peppered the opposing end of the field
with 19 shots.
Occidental improves to 5-7-2 overall and 5-3-2 in SCIAC play. On
Wednesday, Oct. 20 the Tigers will host the Pomona-Pitzer Sagehens
(3-9, 3-6) at 4:00 p.m. on the Lower Soccer Field.
Article by Tracy Maple, Sports Information Director
