Late Heroics Not Enough as 'Dons Fall in Overtime, 2-1

Friday, October 1

Peoria, IL

8:00 p.m.

Purdue Fort Wayne

Bradley

Jorge Ramirez capitalized on a late PK to send the game to overtime

Late Heroics Not Enough as 'Dons Fall in Overtime, 2-1

10/2/2010 12:59:42 AM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

Peoria, IL - After drawing and converting a desperation PK in the waning seconds of regulation, the IPFW Mastodons fell in extra time to an experienced Bradley Brave team, 2-1.

A quiet first half of action saw the sides head to the mid-point locker room scoreless. Just 12 shots were taken in the period, with ten of those coming off the foot of Braves.

The offensive struggles would continue another 30 minutes deeper into the game, until Bradley forward Bryan Gaul got a head on a corner kick from teammate Keith Mach. He found the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season, breaking the offensive stalemate in the game's 79th minute.

Solid defensive play and offensive control by Bradley took the game deep into regulation in what looked like would end up a 1-0 Brave victory. With just 13 seconds remaining on the clock, the Mastodons drew a foul in the box, resulting in a game-tying PK attempt.

Junior forward Jorge Ramirez toed the line and fired a shot past the diving Bradley keeper to tie the game and send the match to overtime.

After just three minutes of overtime action, the home squad would wreck the IPFW excitement. Keegan Balle redirected a rocket off the foot of Rudy Garcia, netting his first score of the year, and sealing a 2-1 Bradley victory.

As a team, the 'Dons took just eight total shots, putting just one, the penalty kick, on goal. The loss is their fourth straight as they fall to 2-8 overall.

IPFW returns to action Wednesday (Oct. 6) as the Bowling Green Falcons visit Fort Wayne. Kick-off in the non-conference tilt is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Hefner Soccer Complex in Fort Wayne.

~Dons~