PITTSBURGH, PA -- The La Roche Redhawks and Franciscan Barons played to a thrilling 4-4 2OT draw on Wednesday afternoon. La Roche is now 4-7-1 overall and 1-2-1 in the AMCC.
The Redhawks forced Franciscan to play on their heels early. Pedro Ansede and Ximo Vicent forced Thomas Dosedel to make quality saves while Tom Spagnolo and Firas Abduljawad were robbed of open nets.
Franciscan got on the board first with a goal in the twenty-fourth minute. Leo Herrman fired a shot from the right side and JP Bobak controlled the rebound for the opening tally.
The Barons' Sebastian Koehler scored in thirty-fourth minute for a two goal advantage.
La Roche cut into the lead just a minute before halftime. Abduljawad found Tyler Grebur in the right corner of the box and Grebur drew the foul for a Redhawk PK. Vicent converted the strike just left of the keeper for a 2-1 game.
Coach Day drew up a game plan for the second half and the Redhawks struck for a second time. Vicent buried a feed from Abduljawad to tie it at 2-2 just three minutes into the second half.
Franciscan got a foot on an open goal in the fifty-fifth minute and Franciscan's best chance came in the seventieth minute. A Baron striker was fouled in the box for a penalty kick but Austin Gorman made a terrific diving stop to keep the score tied.
The Redhawks grabbed the lead with a goal in the seventy-ninth minute. Kyle Harriet sent a ball through the Franciscan defense and Abduljawad deked out the Baron keeper for the tally.
Franciscan answered less than a minute later but Vicent and Ansede connected with six minutes left and a 4-3 lead. The Redhawks again caught Franciscan flat footed and Ansede buried his tenth goal of the season.
The Barons responded with a goal a minute later. Tom Spagnolo nearly found the winner with a minute left but his curling shot caught the post.
Gorman made a tough stop two minutes into overtime and then made a game saving one in the second overtime.
La Roche outshot Franciscan 27-21 and held the Barons without a corner kick. Vicent finished with two goal and an assist and Gorman made nine saves.
The Redhawks will welcome Hilbert to campus this Saturday. Hilbert is winless on the season.