Senior Night Ends in 2-2 Draw

Saturday, October 21

Fort Wayne, Ind.

7 PM

Purdue Fort Wayne

6-4-3, 3-2-2

Cleveland State

3-7-4, 2-2-3

Cleveland St.

Purdue Fort Wayne

10/21/2023 11:01:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score Box Score Photo Gallery

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Mastodon men's soccer team moved their unbeaten streak to three matches with a 2-2 tie against Cleveland State on Saturday (Oct. 21) at the Hefner Soccer Complex.

It was Senior Night for the 'Dons as Michael Teller, Max Collingwood, Marco Navarro, Danny Salazar, Alex Frank, Marc Rodriguez, Luke Morrell and Soshi Fujioka were honored prior to the game.

When the match got going it felt like a game of red light-green light with 36 combined fouls and 11 combined cards. Only one of the four goals in the game came during the run of play. One was off a corner and two were penalty kicks. Additionally, a penalty kick for each team was saved.

The first key play of the match came in the eighth minute when Salazar saved a Viking penalty kick. Scoring opened in the 15^th minute when Seth Mahlmeister converted on a penalty kick goal.

But the 'Dons wouldn't take a lead to the break. Pablo Kawecki tied it off a free kick attempt from 20 yards out in the 29^th minute. It was Kawecki again in the 41^st minute, this time on assists by Josh Davis and Marko Rimac.

The Mastodons earned a shot to tie it up in the 55^th minute but Mahlmeister's penalty kick was turned back.

However, it was Mahlmeister earning the equalizer in the 68^th minute. He snuck a ball just inside the right post off a corner kick by Fujioka. Mahlmeister now has a league-best nine goals, fifth most in the NCAA Division I era in program history for goals in a season. Fujioka has a league-best eight assists, fourth in the DI era for the 'Dons.

Purdue Fort Wayne held a 23-11 edge in shots and 5-3 advantage in corner kicks.

The 'Dons move to 6-4-3 (3-2-2 Horizon League). Cleveland State is now 3-7-4 (2-2-3 Horizon League).

Purdue Fort Wayne is at Northern Kentucky on Saturday (Oct. 28) and then hosts IUPUI on Nov. 1 to close out the regular season. The 'Dons have 11 points in league play, tied for third in the standings.

~ Feel The Rumble ~