Sept. 5, 2008

Box Score

WORCESTER, Mass. - The Providence College men's soccer team played to a 1-1 double overtime draw against Holy Cross Friday night at the Linda Johnson Smith Soccer Stadium in Worcester, Mass. With the tie, the Friars (2-0-1) stay undefeated on the season, while Holy Cross moved to 1-1-1.

After a scoreless 32 minutes, the Friars broke through in the 33rd minute when junior Timothy Ritter (Weston, Mass.) scored his first goal of the season. Sophomore Alex Redding (Newton, Mass.) played a cross from inside of the box to Ritter, whose header hit the left post. However, the rebound came right back to Ritter who scored with his left from three yards out to give the Friars a 1-0 halftime lead.

The Crusaders carried the play early on in the second half and nearly scored the equalizer in the 47th minute. Andreas Andrews took a pass down the left flank and drove in a long cross to the back post to Kyle Miller, but his header was saved by PC goalkeeper Timothy Murray (Haverhill, Mass.). Miller had another chance in the 59th minute as he took a cross off his chest at the top right side of the box, eluded a defender before firing a right-footed shot wide. The Friars quickly responded as Ritter was sent in on a partial breakaway down the right side, but his shot from 12 yards out hit the outside of the net on the near post.

In the 67th minute, sophomore Andrew Sousa (Fall River, Mass.) had a solid opportunity to give PC a two-goal edge. Senior Michael Narciso (Livingston, N.J.) played the ball to Sousa who was left alone at the top of the box, but Sousa slipped and fell on the wet grass and was unable to get a shot off.

The Crusaders tied the game in the 84th minute when Tom Wilhelm headed the ball from in close after a scrum right in front of the net.

The Crusaders had the best chance to score in the first overtime when Jerry Dickinson scorched a right-footed shot off the right post with 20 seconds remaining.