In a game where neither team felt pleased with a single point, Eastern University's
Zach Sievert converted a penalty kick in the 83rd minute to salvage a draw with the visiting Lancaster Bible College Chargers (3-6-1). The Eagles (4-1-3) finished with a 21-12 edge in shots and created numerous good chances after falling behind early.
The Chargers took the lead on a nice bit of work up the right flank. Making an angled run out of the middle, first-year forward Riley Bills redirected a ball into the lower corner for his second career goal.
The Eagles best chances of the first half came on a transition plays. On one play, Marshall Morris beat his defender to the enplane and slid a ball across the face of the goal. A Charger defender kept Sievert from he ball and the pass rolled out on the far side. Later, Morris tucked home a low shot, but the sophomore started his run just a bit early and was ruled offside.
LBC had an 8-6 edge in first-half shots.
Michael Arcuri made two of his four saves before the intermission.
After half, the Eagles seemed to tilt the field, but they were not able to get a shot on frame until
Ethan Pfau hit the right upright with a one-time blast. The Charger defenders did well to block shots in front of their goalkeeper.
In the 73rd minute,
Tyler Truex arrived late after a good bit of work up the left side. His serve bounced behind the LBC back row, and
Osmond Chan smashed a low header on goal. LBC goalkeeper Chris Jackson reacted well and parried the hard shot into the left upright.
Truex played the ball in that created the penalty as well. His left-footed serve to the top of the box was headed toward Morris, but an LBC defender misjudged the bounce and blocked the ball with his arm. Sievert converted the kick.
The Eagles had two chances in the 89th minute. On the first, Cullen Vischer worked in toward the six-yard box but was facing away from goal. His turnaround effort hit an LBC foot and came back out toward the top of the box. A few seconds later, Sievert dropped a ball back to some open space 30 yards from goal.
Matthew DeDios hit a hard shot toward an upper corner, but Jackson parried it away.
In the end, neither team was pleased with the single point. LBC felt the disappointment of losing a lead, and Eastern felt the disappointment of missed opportunity.
Eastern is at Penn State Berkshire on Saturday before jumping into league play next week.
