SPRING ARBOR, Mich. – No. 20 Spring Arbor University erased a two-goal second-half deficit to battle Crossroads League rival University of Saint Francis to a 4-4 draw Saturday afternoon.
Spring Arbor moved to 8-1-2 overall and 0-1-1 in Crossroads League play, while Saint Francis moved to 6-3-2 and 1-0-1.
The scoring started almost immediately. Saint Francis opened the scoring in the fourth minute on a goal by Omolemo Dladla, but Spring Arbor answered just 25 seconds later.
Will Kuiphof followed up his own saved attempt to score his first goal of the season and level the match at 1-1.
The Cougars moved in front in the 16th minute when
Ian Lama set up
Micah Vasey for his fifth goal of the season, giving SAU a 2-1 advantage that held through halftime.
Saint Francis quickly changed the match after the break. Nicolás Balbin tied the score just 38 seconds into the second half before Rezik Dahbor struck at 46:59 to put USF ahead 3-2. Sidney Tippner added another in the 61st minute as the visitors scored three times in the opening 16 minutes of the half to build a 4-2 advantage.
Spring Arbor began its comeback in the 68th minute. Vasey converted a penalty kick for his second goal of the afternoon and sixth of the season, cutting the deficit to 4-3. The Cougars continued to apply pressure, with
Caleb Swartzendruber hitting the post in the 80th minute.
The equalizer finally came with just over three minutes remaining. On an SAU corner kick, Lama found
Pedro Rosa, who scored his third goal of the season at 86:44 to pull the Cougars even at 4-4. Spring Arbor nearly found a winner in the closing moments, with Swartzendruber putting an attempt on goal in the 90th minute before sending another shot wide just before time expired.
Vasey led the Cougars with two goals on five shots, while Lama recorded two assists. Kuiphof and Rosa each added a goal.
Spring Arbor finished with a 20-12 advantage in shots and a 5-3 edge in corner kicks.
Spring Arbor travels to Huntington University on Wednesday, Sept. 30. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m.
