Friars Tie Notre Dame

Extend Season-long Unbeaten Streak

October 29, 2007

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Providence College men’s soccer team extended its season-long unbeaten streak to five games after battling No. 7/11 Notre Dame to a 2-2 draw Sunday.

With the tie, the Friars move to 9-5-2 overall and 5-3-2 in the BIG EAST. The Fighting Irish fell to 10-3-4 overall and 7-0-3 in the conference.

Trailing 2-1 with less than eight minutes remaining in the second half, the Friars evened the score when freshman Matt Marcin tallied his third goal of the season. Sophomore Toussaint McClure drove a cross from the right wing to Marcin, who headed the ball into the left corner of the net from six yards out at 82:39.

The Friars created the best scoring opportunity in the second overtime. Senior Alex Bury (Shrewsbury, Mass.) collected a loose ball at the top of the 18-yard box and fired a shot that was aimed for the top right corner, but Notre Dame goalkeeper Chris Cahill made a diving save to his left and tipped the ball over the cross bar with 10 seconds remaining.

Notre Dame struck first in the 27th minute when a Providence foul just past midfield gave the Irish a free kick from 50 yards out. Irish forward Joseph Lapira's driven cross into box was headed into the bottom left corner of the net by junior Matt Besler.

Providence was able to score the equalizer with only 45 seconds remaining in the first half. The Friars possessed the ball down the right wing before it was played to the top of the 18-yard box to sophomore Jonathan Medcalf. Medcalf then played the ball to his left to freshman Nick Cianci (West Hartford, Conn.) at the corner of the six-yard box. Cianci turned on his defender and placed a shot into the side-netting just past the outstretched hands of Cahill for his first collegiate goal.

Notre Dame regained the lead in the 65th minute, scoring off another set piece. Lapira drove a corner kick that bounced right to Ryan Miller, who fired a shot from 10 yards out and that found the back of the net.