Providence, R.I – For the first time in program history the Wentworth Institute of Technology men's soccer team has started the season with two consecutive ties after Johnson & Wales scored in the 82nd minute to even the score at 1-all, and, after neither team could score in overtime, the game ended in a 1-1 draw.
The Leopards got on the board first when junior Mitchell Kendrioski (Guilford, Conn.) sent a cross to senior Adam Rhodes (Litchfield, Conn.). Rhodes then tucked a shot into the right corner of the net to give visiting Wentworth the 1-0 lead at the 12:42 mark. The Leopards held the one goal lead heading into halftime after a 4-3 advantage in shots for the stanza.
After battling back and forth throughout the second half, the Wildcats knotted the game when senior Doug Kase (Elmwood Park, N.J.) took a corner kick and sent the ball to senior Kyle Metz (St. James, N.Y.) with 8:33 left. Metz then blasted in a shot from 15 yards out to even the score.
Johnson & Wales threatened in the second overtime period as a blasted shot from senior Dustin Hughes (Holden, Mass.) hit the crossbar with just over four minutes left in the clock. Metz had his own shot hit off the crossbar in the final minute, but it wouldn't be enough as regulation ended in a deadlock.
Senior Ryan Dzierzawski (Oakland, Mich.) made two stops in goal for the Wildcats while junior Kevin Pepin (Fairhaven, Mass.) had five saves for Wentworth.
With the tie Johnson & Wales is now 1-0-1 on the year while Wentworth is 0-0-2 for the year. The Wildcats will return to action on Saturday, September 6 when they travel to intra-state rival Salve Regina for a non-conference contest at 3:00 p.m. Wentworth hosts MIT on Sunday at 5:00 p.m
