Ravens and Grizzlies Battle to Draw

The Anderson University men's soccer team welcomed the Franklin College Grizzlies to the AU Soccer Fields on Saturday for a Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference match-up. A back-and-forth battle saw a game of extra soccer as the game went into double overtime. After 110 minutes of play, the game ended in a 2-2 draw.

Franklin (2-6-1, 0-1-1) started off strong against the Ravens (3-6-2, 0-0-2). A goal in the ninth minute gave the Grizzlies an early lead as Dillion Neel hit a shot from the top of the 18-yard box. Anderson wasted no time to answer, taking two shots before finding the back of the net to tie the game. Usman Kamara (Indianapolis, Ind. / Franklin Central) gave the Ravens their first goal in the 12th minute. Jordan Bossman (Gahanna, Ohio / Westerville North) started the play, making a high pass across the box to Drew Sonnefeldt (Lisle, Ill. / Lisle). Sonnefeldt jumped over his defender and headed the ball down. With the ball bouncing in front of the goal, Kamara ran on to it and struck it past an oncoming defender and the Grizzlies goalkeeper to get the Ravens on the board.

The Ravens continued with the pressure for the remainder of the half, outshooting the Grizzlies 6-2 after tying the game up, but were unable to build on their lead before the halftime whistle blew. Anderson and Franklin headed into halftime all tied up 1-1.

Coming out of halftime, a physical game ensued, with both teams getting called for fouls and receiving cards. The Ravens and Grizzlies went back-and-forth with chances at goal, with the Grizzlies once again finding the back of the net first in the second half. Jon Moore scored the Grizzlies goal to take the lead in the 64th minute.

With time ticking away, Anderson's chances were seeming slim. But then, in the 82nd minute, the Ravens were awarded a penalty kick. Taking the PK for the Ravens was Drew Vaughn (Beavercreek, Ohio / Beavercreek). Vaughn slotted the ball into the lower right corner to tie the game up 2-2. Both sides would take two more shots before the final whistle blew, signaling the end of regulation and sending the game into overtime.

Anderson controlled the first overtime, keeping the ball on their offensive end for most of the 10 minutes of play. The Ravens had four shot opportunities and didn't allow the Grizzlies any. The best opportunity to win the game came in the 100th minute. With no one around, Stephen Fite (Cincinnati, Ohio / Homeschool) received the ball in the middle of the 18-yard box. A misfortunate hit sent the ball over the goal. The first overtime would come and go with the game still tied 2-2.

The second overtime saw just three opportunities, with the Ravens taking two shots. Neither team was able to find the back of the net before the final whistle blew. The physical battle between the Ravens and Grizzlies ended after 110 minutes of play in a 2-2 draw.

Overall, the Ravens held possession for 58% of the match, with 50% of that time in possession in the Ravens' own attacking quarter. Anderson spent just 9% of their possession in their defensive quarter. The Ravens outshot the Grizzlies 24-13, taking 15 shots on goal to five. Caleb Gonser (Terre Haute, Ind. / Terre Haute South), Art Hinton IV (Indianapolis, Ind. / Covenant Christian), and Usman Kamara all led the Ravens with four shots. Each of Kamara's shots were on frame, while three on Gonser's were and two of Hinton's were. Gonser led the Ravens with five steals while Dalton Grubbs (Carmel, Ind. / Carmel) paced the Ravens with two steals. 15 corner kicks were awarded to the Ravens, and a total of 32 fouls were committed between the two teams.

Head Coach Scott Fridley had the following to say after the match: "I am happy we found the net late in the game to tie things up, but I am disappointed in our overall performance.  I think Coach Graman had a good plan and his kids fought hard.  We have to find a way to be more patient and make good decisions when the conditions aren't favorable. We will respond to this and learn from it.  Onward and upward.  We have to get ready for Earlham Wednesday.

Anderson will be back in action on Wednesday during Faculty/Staff Appreciation Day at the AU Soccer Fields. They face the Earlham College Quakers in an HCAC contest. The match is set to start at 3:30PM.