HUNTINGDON, Pa.-The Juniata men's soccer team lost a 2-1 overtime thriller to Susquehanna, on a cold and windy Wednesday evening at Gibbel Stadium.
12 minutes into the contest, Johnny King (York Springs, Pa. / Bermudian Springs) came flying down the right side and blast a shot on goal that the Susquehanna keeper parried away.
A minute later, Wyatt Page (King of Prussia, Pa. / Shipley) used an excellent first touch to play Jacob Grove (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin HS) through the defense. The River Hawk defense dragged down Grove, and JC got a free kick in a dangerous position. Page stepped up and wacked the ball towards the left corner and all the Susquehanna keeper could do was punch it wide.
In the 20th minute, Grove played a low ball to Page in the box. Page sent the ball to a wide-open Bass Diakhoumpa (Dakar, Senegal / Mercersburg Academy) who's first time shot flied over the bar.
10 minutes later, a loose ball fell to River Hawk forward Chris Naiman and he volleyed the ball in to give Susquehanna a 1-0 lead which they held going in at halftime. The River Hawks held a 9-4 edge in shots and a 6-1 edge in corners at the break.
Two minutes into the second half, Page came flying down the left wing before creating some space to fire a shot, but it went wide right of the net. In the 62-minute, Page was at it again. This time, he nutmegged a defender before ripping another shot. This one went just left of the net.
The Eagles continued to push for an equalizer, and in the 88th minute, they found one. A loose ball off a long free kick found Diakhoumpa all alone and he slotted the ball into the right corner to the tie the game at 1-1. Neither team scored in the final minute, so they went to OT.
35 seconds into overtime, Joe Stipe (Lititz, Pa. / Warwick) got a shot off that the River Hawk keeper saved. In the 92nd minute, Diakhoumpa found Jarrod Gibson (Abington, Pa. / Abington) with a cross field pass. Gibson came down the right side and fired a shot that went just over the right post.
Juniata will host Drew this Saturday on Senior Day at 1:00.
