WILKES-BARRE, PA - Susquehanna men's soccer held a 2-1 advantage over Wilkes into the late stages on Tuesday, but a last-minute equalizer for the Colonels left the River Hawks to settle for a point and a 2-2 draw on the road.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- An early corner for the Colonels presented the first chance of the game, but the resulting shot missed high, while Khalil McDonald forced the first save of the evening when his low strike from distance was collected by the Wilkes goalkeeper.
- Another early chance for Susquehanna came for Angelo Zografos, who was played in behind by Jack McCarthy's header, but the senior's effort was met by the goalkeeper in the 28th minute.
- Not long after the effort by Zografos, Wilkes had the ball in the net at the other end, with a finish from a tight angle narrowly evading Susquehanna stopper Finn Kramer.
- Darin Martin and McDonald had shots in search of an equalizer before the break, but both were unable to find the target as Susquehanna went into the break behind.
- After a Wilkes free-kick, Susquehanna launched a counter-attack through John Destil, who slid a through ball to Zografos, and he fired an effort into the top right corner to bring Susquehanna level in the 50th minute.
- Javier Diaz volleyed high from McDonald's free-kick delivery in the 54th minute, and Zografos fired high with his sights set on a second brace of the season five minutes later.
- A through ball by McDonald towards McCarthy saw the first-year forward with a run at goal, but as he entered the penalty area, he was swept off his feet before he could attempt a shot and won Susquehanna a penalty. The spot-kick was taken by Owen Kaar, who sent the goalkeeper the wrong way and dispatched the shot from twelve yards to give the visiting River Hawks the lead.
- The ball was played into the penalty area by Alex Clark towards McCarthy in the 71st minute, and McCarthy's goal-bound shot was turned behind.
- Liam Raney had a header from a McDonald cross saved as the River Hawks looked to secure the win in the 87th minute.
- In the final minute of the game, Wilkes won a corner, and as time expired, a header back across goal dropped for Matthew Conti, the goalkeeper, and he volleyed in a heart-breaking equalizer.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
- Both sides took 13 shots over the 90 minutes, with Susquehanna managing seven on target to the Colonels' five. Zografos managed a team-best three with two on target, the latter of which was matched by McCarthy.
- Both sides won three corners, and Susquehanna committed six fouls to Wilkes' 10, while being shown four yellow cards to the hosts' two. Kramer made two saves in goal.
- Susquehanna named an unchanged starting eleven from the previous game.
- Zografos notched his fourth goal of the season, and his sixth during his time at Susquehanna. Kaar's penalty was his second in Susquehanna colors, and his first of the year, and both of his goals have come from dead-balls, with his previous strike being a direct free-kick in 2023.
UP NEXT FOR SU
- Susquehanna's road trip continues for one further game, at Drew on Saturday, October 11th. Following that, they play twice in a row on home soil against Juniata and Moravian, with the clash against the Greyhounds on October 18th representing Senior Day.
