Freshman Eli Solomon scored with just minutes remaining in the match as the Bruins looked to capture a win on the road at Faulkner University. Instead, the Eagles equalized the score and both teams couldn't find the game-winner in overtime as the match ended 1-1. With the draw, the Bruins move to 1-1-1 on the season.
"Our guys shifted into another gear in the second half and as coaches, we were really impressed by the teams level of belief after a discouraging first half," Bruins Head Coach Matt Hotchkin said. "We saw so many good things in the second half and even into the overtime periods. The good news is that some of our guys are really gaining confidence and finding rhythm. We are also seeing the guys take more and more of a share in the ownership of the team, taking responsibility when it is hard to do that."
The Bruins came into the match on the heels of a tough loss on Saturday as they fell to Carolina University 1-0. Faulkner University suffered a tough loss as well on Saturday as they fell to Pensacola Christian College 3-2 in double-overtime. This would be the first-ever meeting between the Bruins and the Eagles as the two teams took the pitch.
From the opening kickoff, both teams came out with high energy as each looked to gain the upper hand. Early on in the half, the Eagles nearly scored as a shot deflected off of Bruins' keeper Chris Monczewski and bounced toward the goal. The ball nearly crossed the goal line before defenseman Caleb Adams cleared the ball aside, saving the goal.
As the half wore on, the game took a turn for the physical as both teams picked up the intensity. The result would be six different cautions given throughout the remainder of the match.
With the first half coming to a close, Conley Burk nearly netted a goal as his shot deflected off the inside of the post. On the ensuing rebound, Peter Waddy had an opportunity to score but his shot was saved by Eagles' keeper Cristobal Romero. The two teams ended the half as they began with the score tied 0-0.
In the second half, the Bruins and Eagles went back and forth with each possession growing that much more important. Still, the match remained scoreless. Chris Monczewski continued to make key saves for the Bruins as the senior keeper notched five saves throughout the match.
With just under nine minutes to play, the Bruins broke the scoreless tie as Eli Solomon bent a beautiful shot into the back of the net to put the Bruins up 1-0. The bench went crazy as the Bruins took the upper hand with the final minutes ticking away. Their celebration was short-lived as the Eagles came right back to tie the game with a goal less than a minute later. As the final buzzer sounded, both teams knew the next goal would be the game-winner as the match headed to overtime.
The first overtime period remained scoreless with both teams balancing their attack with wanting to protect their goal. In the second overtime period, the Bruins got an excellent chance in the closing moments as a cross by Victor Oladipo was headed towards goal by Mario Figueroa but the shot was saved. The final buzzer signaled the end of the match as the two teams settled for a 1-1 draw.
"We are incredibly thankful for the opportunity to have a season, and we will keep giving our best to improve every day of it," Coach Hotchkin said.
The Eagles out shot the Bruins 15-10 in the match with Chris Monczewski making five saves for the Bruins while Eli Solomon scored his second goal of the season. Next up, the Bruins return home for a match on Saturday night as they welcome region-rival Trinity Baptist College to Alumni Stadium.
