ATHERTON, Calif. – Coming off of their first conference victory of the season this past weekend, the Warriors looked to continue their climb up the GSAC standings with a match at Menlo College. The Warriors and Oaks played a hard fought battle that needed 110-minutes, ending in a 4-4 draw.
Thursday started off about as sour as it could, as just seven minutes in Menlo got on the board as they were able to head in a cross. The Oaks excelled at winning balls in the air, as their first three goals all came off crosses sent into the box.
Jessup scored a header of their own in the 15th minute, as sophomore Omar Magana (Sacramento, CA) flicked the ball over the keeper's reach to tie the match. The goal was assisted by sophomore Christian Guzman (Sheridan, CA), who sent the ball into the box on an acrobatic flip throw in.
After the Oaks took a 3-1 lead, the Warriors were able to get back into the match as they were awarded a penalty in the 29th minute. For the second straight match, senior Mitchell Pingree (Loomis, CA) stepped up to the dot and converted the attempt.
To start the second half, Jessup came out pressing and had a number of chances to tie the match. Finally, in the 50th minute the equalizer came from senior Jacob Rodriguez (Pacifica, CA). Menlo's goalkeeper came off his mark to clear the ball away, but ended up deflecting it to Rodriguez who curled in a shot from 20 out into the wide open net.
Menlo would steal all the momentum just under twenty minutes later, as a successful penalty attempt put Jessup down 4-3.
However, Rodriguez would come up clutch, evening the match once again in the 77th minute again thanks to a deflection. Senior Michael Mazzoni (Rocklin, CA) dribbled into the box, and looked to pass backwards, but a deflection on the pass sent it Rodriguez's way who shot into the right corner for the goal.
Each side had chances to score in both overtime periods, but after 110-minutes the match concluded with a 4-4 draw.
Senior Nicholas Schnable (Rocklin, CA) got the start in goal, allowing three goals while recording one save. Junior Robert Harmelink replaced Schanble at halftime, totaling in 65-minutes of field time while making three saves and allowing just one goal (penalty).
The draw, the Warriors' first of the season, earns Jessup one point in the GSAC standings and moves their record to 6-3-1 overall and 1-1-1 in GSAC play.
Jessup will continue the conference season on Saturday, as they will play host to The Master's University at 11:30 a.m.
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William Jessup University is a member of the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), and the Golden State Athletic Conference (GSAC). For additional information regarding Jessup Athletics, visit www.jessupathletics.com; visit www.jessup.edu for more information on William Jessup University. Follow Jessup Athletics on social media: William Jessup University Athletics (Facebook), @WJUSports (Twitter), and @JessupAthletics (Instagram, and Snapchat).
