PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Sophomore
Sondre Asheim (Klepp, Norway) struck gold with a penalty kick opportunity to force a 2-2 draw against Rhode Island College in a Little East Conference (LEC) men's soccer action at Arold Field on Saturday.
Following a goal in the first half by junior
Faisal Abdallah (Concord, N.H.), who scored after back-to-back headers from sophomores
John Christie (Pembroke, Mass.) and
Walter Driscoll (Kittery Point, Maine), RIC gained the upper hand scoring just before halftime and then again in the 68th minute.
Asheim was given the opportunity to tie the game when a penalty kick was rewarded after Driscoll was fouled in the box. Asheim came out the hero as he fired one straight to the back of the net and earn the draw for the Panthers.
Plymouth State moves to 4-3-2 (1-2-1 LEC), while the Anchormen go to 2-4-2 and 1-1-2 in league play.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 2, RIC 2
- Plymouth State (4-3-2, 1-2-1 LEC)
- RIC (2-4-2, 1-1-2 LEC)
How it Happened:
- The Panthers opened the scoring with Abdallah's goal in the early minutes of the contest following a PSU throw in for the 1-0 lead.
- The Anchormen picked up the pace, but junior Nicolas Cornejo (Durham, N.H.) and the Panthers' defense made a stop against three consecutive shots with a save and two blocks to keep the score 1-0 midway through the first half.
- RIC was able to pull even with a score just before halftime to tie the game at 1-1.
- After RIC took a 2-1 lead in the 68th minute, the Panthers gained back momentum the rest of the frame. Asheim cashed in on the penalty kick opportunity and launched the ball to the back of the net to knot the score at 2-2 and neither team was able to mount another goal.
By the Numbers:
- Cornejo posted five saves in the win, He has at least five stops in eight-of-nine games this season.
- Christie picked up his second assist of the year, while Driscoll notched his first.
- Abdallah's goal was his team-leading fourth of the year.
- The teams were playing at Arold Field for the first time since the 2017 season.
- Plymouth State goes to 20-16-4 against the Anchormen dating back to 1986. RIC had won the last two meetings.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State heads to Curry College on Wednesday (Oct. 5) for a 7:00 p.m. clash with the Colonels.
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