WC, ONU play to 0-0 tie in 2OT

0

The Wilmington College men’ soccer team played to a 0-0 tie with Heidelberg in a tough, physical, foul-plagued contest Saturday in Ohio Athletic Conference action at Williams Stadium’s Townsend Field.

“We had to play well because Heidelberg is a good team,” said Wilmington head coach Bud Lewis. “It’s no wonder they beat the top team in our conference, Ohio Northern 2-0 a week ago. Our guys wanted to finish on a good note. We wanted to come out this game and show our capabilities. I was particularly pleased with how we played the final 65 minutes. We had a solid second half, and I thought we put a lot of pressure on them in both overtimes.”

The two teams combined for 43 fouls and five yellow cards, but Lewis wasn’t particularly surprised.

“Part of it is the style both teams play; we are both hardened teams,” said Lewis. “There were a lot of after-foul fouls that didn’t get called early on that created an atmosphere that was frustrating early on for our players. Quite frankly the game was called, in the second half, the way it needed to be called between those two teams. I think there were other times he could have thrown out a couple more yellow cards if he wanted to.”

Freshman goalkeeper Nick Latessa (Englewood, OH/Northmont) stood tall between the pipes Fightin’ Quakers in possibly the best game of his career. He made seven saves on the evening as Wilmington recorded its first shutout of the season.

His two biggest saves came in the final minute of regulation. The first stymied quite possibly the best scoring chance by either team as a deflected ball found a ‘Berg player at the mouth of the goal and Latessa smothered it. However, the Student Princes had a run out seconds later, but Latessa was a brick wall and senior Jesse Buhrman (Westlake, OH/Westlake) cleared it over the goal.

“It was a great look for them,” said Lewis. “Today, Nick came up big for us. Nick Latessa probably had his best game of the year today in the sense he made a couple of critical saves.”

Four different players – Benny Spirk (Wilmington, OH/Wilmington), Ethan Zimpfer (Botkins, OH/Botkins), Nicholas Martennson (Torna Hallestad, Sweden/NTI) and Buhrman – all recorded shots on the goal.

It marked the final games for three Wilmington seniors – Zimpfer, Buhrman and Nick Toney (Morrow, OH/Little Miami.

“This was a game for our seniors; we wanted to send them out with a W,” said Lewis.” I think in reality they all had a chance and they performed well. We are going to miss the contributions of Ethan, JJ (Burhman) and Nick.”

WC Sports Info. Dept.

No posts to display