MOUNT OLIVE (Oct. 5) – Junior
Juan Gonzalez-Gancedo and freshman
Kevin Jimenez each scored in the final nine minutes of the match, as the Trojans fought back to force a 2-2 tie against Young Harris on Saturday afternoon in Conference Carolinas action at Amon Field.
With the draw, the University of Mount Olive men's soccer team earned another critical point in the league standings and stand at 2-3-3 this season with a 1-1-3 record in league play. It marked the first meeting between the squads since 2013 as Young Harris joined the Conference Carolinas last year. Meanwhile, the Mountain Lions move to 5-0-3 overall behind a 4-0-1 mark after entering the contest receiving votes in the national United Soccer Coaches poll.
Young Harris controlled possession in the opening portion of the contest recording three shots and a pair of corner kicks in the initial 23-plus minutes of the first half. The Mountain Lions scored the first goal of the match as Jorge Oteiza delivered a header of close range off a cross from Leho Le Louarn in the 25th minute. The remaining moments of the first half featured limited action as both sides registered one shot of goal.
In the second half, Mount Olive nearly tied the contest at the 52:46 mark with Jimenez hitting the right post before the ball was eventually cleared. Despite offensive pressure from the Trojans, Young Harris extended its advantage in the 74th minute after Ivar Na Aga headed home a corner kick from Le Louarn, 2-0. UMO continued to deliver shots with four more in the span of four minutes, including an attempt that hit the post from freshman
Nicolas Arze-Ynsua. On a free kick in the 82nd minute, junior
Joao Barboza Filho fired a shot on goal which was saved before Gonzalez-Gancedo chipped in the goal to trim the deficit to 2-1. Just four minutes later, Jimenez netted the game-tying goal at the 85:30 mark into the bottom right corner of the net off an assist from sophomore
Babacar Fall, 2-2. The Trojans were reduced to 10-men in the 88th minute before ultimately earning a result on Saturday.
Senior goalkeeper
Axel Engren finished with four saves on 10 shots faced in 90 minutes of play.
The Trojans out-shot the Mountain Lions by a 15-10 margin while YHC held a 7-4 edge in corner kicks.
Mount Olive returns to divisional action on Tuesday, Oct. 8, when it travels to face rival Barton at 7 p.m.
