The Mount Ida College Men's Soccer team opened their season at home against Eastern Nazarene College today going into double overtime only to take their first tie of the season, 0-0.
The first half was back and forth with opportunities for both teams to convert on scores, but it would be deadlocked at 0-0 after the first 45 minutes of play.
The Crusaders had the most chances to take advantage on the scoreboard but Mustang goalkeeper and senior captain Brain Leighton (Turner, ME/Leavitt Area) kept his squad in the hunt for a victory with some outstanding saves between the pipes.
With 26:20 remaining in the half, Leighton denied a shot from Nazarene freshman Chris Scearbo (Georgetown, MA/Masconomet Regional) that caught the post and rolled out of play. Again, with 14:00 to go, Leighton would fend off another point blank shot from Scearbo giving his team another life.
The Mustangs would have a chance of their own off a cross by sophomore midfielder Hayato Kanesaka (Old Tappan, NJ/Northern Valley) to the head of senior captainMatt Gill (Winfield, KS/Winfield/Garden City C.C.) that grazed the crossbar.
The second half was even on both sides the entire 45 minutes with no real chance for either squad to capitalize on netting a goal. Leighton would save the only legitimate opportunity for the Crusaders on another close shot. They would head into extra time with the game still in question.
After a very stagnant first extra period where both teams could not translate anything, it was all about who wanted the victory more. Unfortunately, no team could convert a goal in the last overtime giving both squads a tie for their first game of the season.
The only opportunity was by Mount Ida with 3 minutes left in the game when Gill had a shot blocked from the eight yard line by Crusaders goalie freshman Chris Cherry (Brockton, MA/Brockton).
The Mustangs had a total of 38 shots on net, 13 on goal while the Crusaders could only muster 11 shots total, and 3 on goal. Leighton would be outstanding with two huge saves while Naz keeper Cherry denied 13.
Mount Ida will stay home and host Curry College this coming Tuesday, September 2 starting at 3:30 p.m.