Friday, August 24, 2007

MASTEY, FLYERS BEAT TUSCULUM MEN’S SOCCER 3-2 IN OVERTIME

GREENEVILLE, Tenn. --- Cory Mastey scored two goals, including the match-winner 23 seconds into the second overtime period as Lewis University defeated host Tusculum College 3-2 Friday night at Pioneer Field. It was the season opener for both teams and the TC coaching debut for Brett Teach.

Mastey broke the 2-2 deadlock in the 101^st minute as he took a lead pass by Mark Switalski on a breakaway and found the back of the net on the far post for the winning goal.

Lewis jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the opening half, making the most of its three shots in the first 45 minutes. Mastey got the Flyers (1-0) on the board first when he put a ball into the top shelf of the goal on a pass by Craig McIntosh in the 28^th minute. LU made it a 2-0 advantage at the 41:45 mark when Jose Ibarra, who entered the game just moments earlier, blasted a shot off the far post from 20 yards out.

In the second half, Tusculum (0-1) answered with a pair of goals, the first coming from Bruno Conceicao as he connected on a shot from the far post from 18 yards away to cut the deficit in half. Matthew Ross tied the match in the 69^th minute as he took advantage of a ball-handling miscue by Lewis keeper Anthony Szymel and knocked home the equalizer.

Tusculum out-shot Lewis 15-10 in regulation, but Lewis accounted for four shots in extra time, while limiting the Pioneers to zero attempts.

Szymel picked up the win as he recorded five saves on the night, while Tusculum’s Lance Moore posted six saves as he went the distance for the home team.

Tusculum returns to action Sunday night when they host the University of Montevallo for a 6 p.m. match at Pioneer Field. Lewis continues its Tennessee road swing with a Sunday match at No. 5 Lincoln Memorial University.

- TC -