Hermitage, Pa., October 10, 2011 -- In a thrilling game in which they trailed by two goals in the second half, the Grove City Eagles (9-1-1, 2-1-1) picked up a 3-3 double overtime tie against the host Hickory Hornets.
Although Grove City outplayed Hickory in the first half, Hornet Kevin Hodgkins' goal was the only mark on the scoreboard after 40 minutes of play. Hodgkins scored on a corner kick taken from the left side of the field 19 minutes into the game. Grove City registered 14 offensive attacks to 10 by Hickory during the first frame.
Lightning struck in the Hive just 35 seconds into the second half when Hornet Zach Walters scored on a rebound from six yards out; 2-0 Hornets. Less than three minutes later Eagle striker Armando Henriquez scored from near the penalty stripe on a pass from the right side from midfielder Sam Homan who was fed by striker Thomas Hummel. The Eagles then fell behind 3-1 when Hornet Phil Tantuo notched the Hornets' final goal on a beautiful shot from 18 yards placed just beneath the crossbar. With 28 minutes left in the game and trailing by two goals, the Eagles had a choice: fold or kick into high gear. Heeding Churchill's famous admonition, "Never give in," the Eagles kicked into high gear. They would score three more goals and one of them, an apparent game-winner, would be disallowed.
After Tantuo's goal, the Eagles mounted six offensive attacks to the Hornets' two during the next 10-minute span and picked up a second goal by midfielder Matthew Welker. Welker received a pass from right winger Henriquez, trapped the ball, beat a Hornet to his right and ripped a 16-yard shot from the center of the penalty area. The Eagles were within one goal of tying the Hornets.
They were living life in the fast lane when Welker passed to Thomas Hummel streaking up the middle. Before Hummel could receive the ball, a Hornet defender pulled him down in the penalty area producing a penalty kick. Welker calmly stepped up and tied the game 3-3 from the 12-yard charity stripe with 19 minutes remaining. Neither team scored for the remainder of the half sending the game into overtime.
With just a few minutes remaining in the first ten minutes of extra play dominated by the Eagles, Alex Boarts tagged a low shot from 20 yards and hit the left post. Striker Will Potter settled the rebound and struck the apparent game-winner from 12 yards. While the Eagles' fans cheered wildly, the referee on the far side of the field stood stoically, Statue of Liberty-like, with his right arm in the air signaling Potter offside. The call would be anything but liberating for the Eagles sending them into a second overtime.
The Hornets got the best of play in the second overtime, but the scoreboard didn’t change: 3-3. The teams will have to wait 16 days to settle the score at the Nest on October 26. Grove City will play at Commodore Perry on Wednesday October 12 (varsity, 6 p.m.; jayvee 4:00 p.m.).
Courtesy: Grove City High School
