MOUNT VERNON, Ohio – Seniors Jacob Crull and Hunter Gibbons each found the back of the net in the final eight minutes to help the Spring Arbor University men's soccer team overcome a two-goal deficit and earn a 2-2 draw at Mount Vernon Nazarene University on Saturday night.

Crull's goal came in the 83rd minute while Gibbons scored with 22 seconds remaining in regulation to force overtime.

THE BASICS

FINAL SCORE: No. 12 Spring Arbor 2, Mount Vernon Nazarene 2

LOCATION: Mount Vernon, Ohio

RECORDS: Spring Arbor 8-1-2 (3-0-1 CL), Mount Vernon Nazarene 7-3-2 (2-1-1 CL)

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After 75 minutes of scoreless soccer, a flurry of goals were scored in the final 15 minutes.
• Mount Vernon Nazarene took the lead with a goal by Gerrit Brinkman in the 76th minute, followed by a marker from Keon Boney just five minutes later.
• Spring Arbor refused to go away without a fight. Crull buried a free kick from the top of the 18-yard box in the 83rd minute to cut the deficit to one. Then, in the closing seconds, Gibbons delivered the equalizer, lobbing a cross into the box from the left corner that found its way into the back of the net.
• The Cougars nearly won it in overtime, but the MVNU goalkeeper came up with several key saves, including a pair of attempts by Leutrim Shefkiu, to preserve the tie.
• Spring Arbor outshot MVNU 18-13 on the night.
• SAU goalkeeper Christopher Banfi made five saves.

BEYOND THE BOX SCORE

• Spring Arbor is 3-3-4 against MVNU over the last 10 meetings.
• The draw snapped SAU's five-match winning streak.
• Gibbons' last-minute goal marked the second time this season that the Cougars scoring a game-tying goal in the final seconds of regulation. The first came against then-No. 19 ranked Olivet Nazarene University on Sept. 3 when Brian D'Ascenzo scored with one second left on the clock to erase a three-goal and finish with a 3-3 draw against the Tigers.
• Through four league matches, SAU is tied at the top of the Crossroads League standings with Huntington University.

UP NEXT

Spring Arbor returns home to host Goshen College (5-7-0, 1-3-0 CL) on Wednesday, Oct. 9. The match is scheduled to start at 7 p.m.

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