CARY, NC – The William Peace University men's soccer team was back at WakeMed Soccer Park Wednesday night against the Royals of Eastern Mennonite University. The Pacers let a 3-1 lead slip away in the final minutes of regulation but righted the ship to earn a 3-3 draw in double-overtime.
 
"I feel conflicting emotions. On one hand, I'm frustrated, and on the other hand, I'm very proud of the guys," said head men's soccer coach Caleb Husmann. "It's frustrating that the last 15 minutes of regulation was not what we wanted to do, giving up the lead like that. However, I think a lot of teams would've given up that lead, and they would've gone on to lose in overtime, but I was really proud of the way we played in overtime. We picked up the intensity, guys gutted it out, and we generated several scoring opportunities in both overtime periods, so we finished strong."
 
The Pacers (1-1-1) struck 15 minutes in, as Tanielu Riley went up and headed in Enrique Ochoa's corner kick, rattling it off the cross bar and across the goal line to make it 1-0. It was Riley's second goal of the season and Ochoa's first assist. Eastern Mennonite tied things up though with a 34th-minute penalty kick converted by Parker Leap. It was the third goal WPU surrendered this year, all three of which came by way of penalty kicks.
 
Ja'Rod Randolph connected with Ochoa on the other side of the break, playing a clever touch pass that freed up Ochoa for his second score of the season in the 64th. Less than 10 minutes later, freshman Will Hall gave the Pacers a 3-1 lead with the first goal of his collegiate career. Hall sent a ball into the box off a defender, beat him to the loose ball and put it in the back of the net.
 
WPU had their opportunities to kill out the clock after Daniel Obour made it 3-2 in the 84th, but the Royals (1-1-2) drove it down the field for the equalizer with less than two minutes left in regulation. Dylan Polley scored the goal with help from Jesus Trejo. The Pacers narrowly missed coming through with a game-winner in overtime, and the game ended in a stalemate.
 
The WPU men's soccer team hits the road to Pennsylvania for a pair of games this weekend. The Pacers face Rosemont College Saturday followed by the University of Valley Forge on Sunday. Both contests are slated to kick off at 2:00 p.m. 
 
For the latest news and updates from William Peace University Athletics, please visit: http://gopeacepacers.com/.


         

Caleb Husmann Postgame: Eastern Mennonite (9.7.16)