BRUNSWICK, Maine – Elliot Spatz (Bellevue, Wash.) scored in the 89th minute and the Connecticut College men's soccer team battled back to earn a 1-1 draw against #17 Bowdoin on Saturday from Pickard Field. With the draw Conn moves to 1-1-2 on the year, and 0-1-1 in conference play, while Bowdoin moves to 3-0-1 overall and 1-0-1 in NESCAC action.
It was a slow start for both teams, as neither side generated much in the opening 10 minutes. Bowdoin got the first shot of the contest just before the 11 minute mark, but TJ Krongard (Montclair, N.J.) came up with the save. Conn answered two minutes later with their first effort, but Spatz put his header high.
The Polar Bears broke the ice in the 20th minute. Adam Prince found Mateo Pacelli who put Bowdoin in front 1-0. Both defenses continued their strong play, with the Polar Bears putting the only other shot of the half on target, with Krongard making the save, as the Camels trailed 1-0 at the break.
Conn had a positive start to the second half, nearly evening the score five minutes in. Spatz made a cut around the last Polar Bear defender, forcing a save by Alex Ainsworth, with the rebound falling to Gavin Mpiana (Cape Town, South Africa), but Mpiana's effort went high.
Marco Perugini (Medway, Mass.) was inches away from finding the equalizer, as he shrugged off a defender before putting a shot off the crossbar that nearly bounced in. The Camels again came close to tying the match, as Perugini was denied by Ainsworth at the near post with 10 minutes to play.
Conn upped the pressure over the final minutes looking to even the score. With just under two minutes remaining the Camels earned a corner kick. On the ensuing corner kick, Mpiana swung a ball into the box, where Spatz was able to head it home to make it 1-1. Neither side was able to find the winner in the final 100 seconds, as the game finished 1-1.
Bowdoin outshot Conn 9-7, holding a slim 4-3 edge on shots on target, while the Camels held a 6-2 advantage on corner kicks.
Krongard got the start in goal, finishing with three saves. Spatz tallied the lone goal, while Mpiana chipped in the assist.
Ainsworth got the nod between the sticks, making two saves, as Pacelli notched the only goal for Bowdoin.
Conn returns home on Tuesday to take on Salve Regina at 4:00 p.m. on Freeman Field.
