WEST CHESTER, Pa.- Following a road victory at Southern Connecticut State on Saturday, the West Chester University men's soccer team (2-1-1) returned home on Wednesday to take on Mercy (2-2-1). Both teams battled through rainy conditions throughout the first half and the final minutes of the second half, but goals were aplenty as the match ended in a 3-3 draw after an 89th-minute goal by the visiting Mavericks.            

Mercy had the first good chance of the game in the ninth minute, but Jaden Howard (Townsend, Del./Middletown) was up to the task, making a point-blank save to keep the game scoreless early.

The Mavericks found the first goal of the game just over 10 minutes later when Matteo Azambuja made a well-timed run and took an assist across the box from Mario De Roque Zazon to give the visitors an early 1-0 lead.

Mercy ended the first half with an 8-7 lead in shots, while shots on goal were even at 3-3, while the Golden Rams had a 4-2 lead in corners.

Owen Slack (Collegeville, Pa./Perkiomen Valley) scored early in the second half to tie the game at 1-1 just five minutes into the second half, taking advantage of a long throw from Jason Goldfeder (Mechanicsburg, Pa./Cedar Cliff) and a perfect pass from Alex Fedor (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown East).

West Chester took its first home lead of the season just moments later when Peter Tichy (Bethlehem, Pa./Freedom) threaded a pass through to Sean Duffy (Hockessin, Del./Salesianum), who was in space at the top of the box and made the most of the chance to give West Chester a 2-1 lead in the 52^nd minute.

In the 61^st minute, Mercy countered with a goal from Santiago Dutilh to tie the game at 2-2.

Duffy picked up an assist in the 62^nd minute when he dribbled through traffic and found Maksym Komperda (Whitehall, Pa./Allentown Central Catholic) in space in the box to give West Chester a 3-2 lead.

It appeared that this lead might hold up, as the Golden Ram defense did a strong job of clearing the ball out of immediate danger over the next 20-plus minutes, effectively slowing the Mercy offense.
Mercy had other ideas, however, as Juan Gonzalez shot from distance with just over 1:30 to play in regulation and was able to beat Howard as the ball traveled through a maze of players at the top of the box to tie the game at 3-3 with just 90 seconds to play.

Neither side was able to generate a winning goal in the final 90 seconds of the match as West Chester and Mercy ended the rain-soaked affair in a somewhat fitting 3-3 draw on Wednesday afternoon.
West Chester ended the game with a slim 18-15 lead in shots and a 10-7 lead in shots on goal, although Mercy finished the match with a 5-4 lead in corners after earning three in the second half of the draw.

Howard made four saves in the draw, while his counterpart, Mateo Sanchez, was excellent as well, making seven stops to manage the potent Golden Ram offense.

Up Next

West Chester will head across Pennsylvania on Saturday to take on Gannon beginning at 1 p.m. before hosting California (Pa.) on Senior Day on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m.