Sept. 18, 2010
Box Score
PHILADELPHIA - Rookie Jidell Roach (Willow Grove, PA/Abington) netted the first two goals of his young career, including the equalizer to send the Explorers to an eventual 4-4 double overtime tie at Niagara University on Saturday. The contest marks the third straight extra time game for the Explorers (0-3-2), as well as the second straight year the Explorers and Purple Eagles (1-3-1) have played to a draw in two OTs.
Purple Eagle Carl Haworth scored the first of his two goals just 46 seconds into the contest and Liam Gilbert put the home team up 2-0 in the 20th minute on the first of his two goals. Gino Corasaniti assisted on both.
Roach scored his first in the 33rd minute to cut the deficit to 2-1, an unassisted shot past the low far post.
Gilbert scored his second at the 37:20 mark to send the home team up 3-1, but Ryan Sepe (West Islip, NY/West Islip) answered immediately when Ryan Richter (Southampton, PA/William Tennent) sent a cross to him at the 18 yard line and Sepe rocketed the ball into the net at the 37:25 mark.
With the score at 3-2 at the half, the Explorers scored first in the second stanza. Rookie Jason Plumhoff (Ellicott City, MD/River Hill) scored the first of his career on an unassisted breakaway shot to tie the game at 3-all in the 50th minute.
Haworth netted his second of the game in the 58th minute but the Explorers answered once again when Roach lasered in the equalizer at 67:08.
Both squads had their opportunities in the overtime periods as the Purple Eagles outshot the Explorers 4-1 in the first OT, and the Explorers outshot the home team 3-1 in the second OT.
The Purple Eagles' Levi Tesch led all players with nine attempted shots and Richter led the Explorers with seven. Overall, the home team held a 26-23 shot advantage and 18-9 shot-on-goal advantage. However, rookie netminder John McCarthy (Cinnaminson, NJ/Northeast Catholic) was again strong in goal, coming up with 14 saves including nine in the second half. Michael Moran was in goal for Niagara, registering four saves.
The Explorers are now more than halfway through their seven-game road trip, with three remaining. Next up is a visit to Navy on Wednesday (9/22) at 7:00 PM.
