Aboagye Completes Rally as No. 18 Men's Soccer Ties Dominican, 2-2
Box Score 
DOBBS FERRY, N.Y. (Sept. 30, 2013) – Senior Ransmond Aboagye (Bronx, N.Y. / Boro of Manhattan CC) capped a rally with his first goal of the season as the Mercy College men's soccer team salvaged a 2-2 tie against Dominican (N.Y.) College on Monday afternoon.
Mercy's record now stands at 6-1-1 overall while Dominican moves to 4-4-1.
The Mavericks dominated the run of play throughout the game, outshooting the Chargers, 34-16 (16-11 on-target). The marathon high-intensity game lasted over 2 ½ hours as the teams played through double overtime and combined for eight yellow cards.
Despite Mercy getting off a shot on goal on the first possession of the game, Dominican got on the board first as junior Mark Grant volleyed a cross from senior Sony Narro past the onrushing senior Nick Papas (Castleton, N.Y.) in the 16th minute. The Chargers added a second just eight minutes later as Narro dribbled through the defense on the left side and smashed the ball just inside the far post to give Dominican the early 2-0 lead.
Down early for the fourth straight game, the Mavericks regained their composure and struck back before halftime, halving the deficit in the 38th minute as junior Ryan Flynn (Valley Stream, N.Y. / Valley Stream South) broke open behind the left back to receive a pass from junior Andrew Levy (Bayside, N.Y. / Berkeley College) and fired it at senior Andres Ruiz, who mishandled the shot and allowed the ball to bounce into the net.
Both teams tested the opposing keeper on multiple shots coming out of the break, and Mercy finally found the equalizer in the 70th minute when freshman Michael Ledesma (Miami Beach, Fla. / Miami Beach Senior), beat the defense on the right side of the box and ripped one of his game-high eight shots at Ruiz, who could only palm it away. Aboagye collected the ball about 10 yards out with his back turned toward the goal, spun around his defender and slotted it inside the far post to even the score at 2-2.
Papas was quickly called upon to make a series of impressive saves at the other end of the field, following his third in just two minutes with an athletic dive into a pile 15 yards out and coming up with the ball, enduring a kick to the side in the process. He quickly followed that up with a spectacular off-balance effort to punch a deep lopping shot over the crossbar.
Neither team could break through as regulation came to an end, although Mercy had one final chance on a long free kick that was sent high. Dominican took a huge hit just 10 seconds from the whistle when senior Anthony Kcira was sent off after receiving a second yellow card, leaving the Chargers to play down a man heading into overtime.
Mercy was in total control as the first overtime period got underway. The Mavericks forced Ruiz to make three saves in the opening six minutes and another in the 99th, while Papas was called on just once, in the 98th. The second was more evenly contested as Dominican chanced an early attack that resulted in a shot on goal before hunkering down in defense to preserve the tie.
The Mavericks perhaps should have come away with the win, as the referee chose not to make a call midway through the second overtime when a Maverick went down in the box, with which both the bench and fans vehemently disagreed. Nevertheless, both teams left with a result as Papas totaled nine saves and Ruiz made 14.
Head Coach Chris Smith and the Mavericks (6-1-1, 2-1) will return to East Coast Conference play as they head to Dowling College (3-3-1, 1-2-1) on Wednesday, Oct. 2. The game will be available online via Livestats, which can be accessed through the men's soccer schedule page.
