Washington, D.C. – UMBC junior forward
Brady Geho scored with just forty-three seconds remaining, securing an improbable 3-3 draw for the Retrievers' men's soccer team against the George Washington Revolutionaries on Tuesday afternoon at GW Soccer Field.
UMBC (4-6-3) found itself trailing 3-1 after the Revolutionaries scored just 1:40 into the second half. However, the Retrievers battled back and managed to earn a hard-fought tie in the nation's capital.
The Retrievers struck first, scoring 12:54 into the first half as senior
Jojo Ocran netted his second goal of the season. Graduate student striker
Kofi Amoah delivered a left-footed corner kick to the back post, where Ocran headed the ball past Revolutionary goalkeeper Tom Macauley.
George Washington (2-10-3) responded with a set piece in the 21st minute. Defender Alex Prendergast made a run to the back post, heading in a corner delivered by forward Alex Nicholson.
The Revolutionaries took a 2-1 lead just five minutes later, with forward Jaden Dubon scoring another header from close range after a service from Louis Saville.
The Retrievers fell behind 3-1 just one hundred seconds into the second half when Tommaso Lami found Louis Crofts for a breakaway. A UMBC defender managed to slow down Crofts' advance, but he cut back and fired a shot past UMBC goalie
Emigdio Tormo Lopez into the lower right corner.
UMBC narrowed the deficit to one goal in the 57th minute when senior defender
Ricky Schissler capitalized on a rebound after an initial shot by junior forward
Ryan Calheira was deflected by Macauley. This marked Schissler's first goal of the season.
Tormo Lopez made a crucial save with 10:50 remaining, preserving the chance for a comeback. Forward Joel Russ headed a cross into the box, aiming for the left corner of the net, but Tormo Lopez performed an acrobatic diving stop to his right and managed to recover, preventing the ball from trickling over the line. It was his only save of the afternoon.
In a stunning finale, the Retrievers equalized in the final moments, showcasing teamwork from four players. While being knocked to the ground, sophomore forward
Gunder Miller successfully crossed a short ball to sophomore forward
Matteo Samori just outside the top left corner of the box. Samori immediately sent a precise pass into the right side of the box for freshman defender
Trae Robeson, who controlled the ball with his right foot. Robeson then delivered a cross into the middle for a sliding Geho, who tapped the ball into the back of the net from close range, while Macauley (three saves) also went to the ground in an attempt to stop the play. It was Geho's team-leading fourth marker of the season.
UMBC, who is now unbeated against GW in 12 straight contests, held a 12-11 edge in total shots and an 8-4 advantage in corners.
The Retrievers travel to UMass Lowell on Saturday evening.