Men’s Soccer – Lakers Draw with #4 Nationally Ranked TC3, 1-1 in 2OT

CANANDAIGUA – #4 nationally ranked Tompkins Cortland CC came into Lakers territory on Sunday facing a prosperous team in FLCC (8-9-3, 2-2-1 MSAC). The two teams, facing off on a balmy October day in front of a decent-sized crowd, delivered a showcase of a game.

The conference showdown was filled with great defense and physical play all afternoon long. With no winner determined upon the sound of regulation, the visiting Panthers and the hosts would give the attendees in the stands some added soccer. The contest, which read 1-1 after the 90th minute expired, would take its viewers into a pair of ten-minute overtimes before ending with just that – a 1-1 draw.

Tompkins Cortland, who fell to the nation's top team in Herkimer County CC in its previous game, came to FLCC's campus yesterday with a roster chock full of talent. The Lakers, who have recently endured a stretch where they have played some of their greatest soccer of 2012, were entering the meeting riding a string full of positive momentum.

Sunday's matinee produced no scoring in the first 45 minutes of it. Both defenses put forth a great effort in half number one – hence leading to the nil-nil halftime score. The zero-zero tie would come to a halt shortly after intermission concluded. At minute 50, TC3 found the Lakers net for the game's first goal. Dan Smith was on the shooting end of it.

After the TC3 helper was recorded, the conference contest would remain 1-nil in favor of the Panthers – until the 75th minute. At that instance is when Lakers defender Clayton Lovelace would change the outcome of the game. It was then when he found the goal-scoring column thanks to a pass received from teammate Samuel Saie. Lovelace, who headed the ball into TC3's net, has now scored a goal in back-to-back games.

After FLCC evened things up at one, both teams would play to a draw for the remainder of regulation and into a pair of overtimes. The ensuing time in regulation and in both overtimes – after Lovelace's marker – provided nothing but quality play on both teams' parts. The score may not have dictated a winner, but it sure did indicate just how hard each team played – as neither TC3 nor FLCC would concede to one another.

On the shooting end of the pairing, the Lakers outshot the Panthers – 14-6. On the winning end in the crease for FLCC was Shane Bly. The sophomore produced 4 saves in 110 minutes worth of action. In his last 6 starts, he has helped lead the Lakers to a 4-0-2 record.

With the loss, TC3 falls to 12-3-1 on the season. They will play next on Wednesday (10/17) at Onondaga CC. That game will mark the end of the regular season for the Panthers.

The Lakers will conclude their 2012 regular season campaign tomorrow when they take on Jefferson CC on the road at 7:00 p.m. Jefferson will enter the matchup supporting a 3-10-2 (0-1-1 MSAC) record.