PLYMOUTH, N.H. – Senior
Faisal Abdallah (Accra, Ghana) notched his team-leading fourth goal of the season and sophomore
Kole Matta (East Hampstead, N.H.) made eight saves, but Westfield State University was able to pull even with just over eight minutes remaining as Plymouth State University and the Owls settled for a 1-1 draw in a non-conference men's soccer match at Arold Field on Tuesday afternoon.
Despite several good chances, neither team was able to break through in the opening 45 minutes. Matta was exceptional, making several diving stops to keep the game scoreless into the break. Abdallah took advantage of a misplayed ball to streak in alone in the 70th minute, calmly tapping the ball past the goalkeeper as PSU took a 1-0 lead.
The Owls would battle back, though, throwing increased pressure on the PSU defense. The visitors were able to pull even with just 8:05 remaining when a pass from the left side got through traffic for a tap in and the game would end in a 1-1 draw.
Plymouth State extends its unbeaten streak to three straight and four of five to move to 3-3-2, while the Owls go to 4-3-1.
The Basics:
- Plymouth State 1, Westfield State 1
- Plymouth State (3-3-2)
- Westfield State (4-3-1)
How it Happened:
- Westfield had the game's first chance in the ninth minute when a shot from the left side was headed for the near post, but Matta dove to his right to deny the chance and classmate Cam McMahon (East Hampstead, N.H.) cleared the ball off the line.
- Abdallah made a run up the left side in the 18th minute before sending a pass into the box. Senior Walter Driscoll (Kittery Point, Maine) attempted a left-footed flick, but the shot was just wide.
- Abdallah found senior August Westerholm (Stockholm, Sweden) streaking up the middle a minute later but his left-footed bid for the far post was just deflected wide by the Westfield State goalkeeper.
- Matta turned aside another golden chance for the Owls in the 22nd minute when a long throw-in bounced over a pair of defenders. The Westfield State striker fired a shot from the six, but Matta was able to stop the point-blank effort.
- Matta made another exceptional save on a full extension to his left to deny a header opportunity off another throw-in a minute later.
- PSU's best chance in the first half came in the 27th minute when Abdallah stole a pass at midfield and split the defense for a breakout opportunity, but a heavy touch allowed the Westfield State goalie just enough time to clear the ball and the game remained scoreless into the break.
- The Owls looked poised to take the lead in the 53rd minute with possession in the box, but senior Sondre Asheim (Klepp, Norway) read the play perfectly to intercept a pass and send the ball up the sideline.
- Plymouth State thought it had a goal in the 66th minute when freshman Valentijn Buma (Bloemendaal, Netherlands) chipped a ball over the goalie's head from the right side, but a Westfield State defender got to the goal line to send the ball out of the box.
- The Panthers finally broke through in the 70th minute as junior Massimo Korcsog (Ottawa, Ontario) cleared a ball over midfield and a Westfield State misplay led to a breakaway for Abdallah, who took two touches before tucking a shot inside the right post for the 1-0 lead.
- Westfield State found the equalizer in the 82nd minute when a pass from the left side skipped through the box for a tap-in to even the score at 1-1.
- The Owls continued to attack over the final eight minutes, but Matta and the Panthers' defense stood tall to preserve the tie.
By the Numbers:
- Abdallah is tied for the Little East Conference (LEC) lead with four goals on the year.
- Matta's eight saves were a career high. He's sporting an impressive 0.55 goals against average and .900 save percentage this season.
- Westfield State held a 17-13 advantage in shots, including a 10-3 edge in shots on goal.
- The Owls earned five corner kicks to PSU's three.
- Plymouth State won the only other meeting between the two schools, a 3-0 decision in the championship game of the 2001 ECAC New England Tournament.
Up Next:
- Plymouth State remains home to face LEC foe Rhode Island College on Saturday (Sept. 28) at 1:00 p.m.
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