Watkinson Scores Heidelberg a Win

Craig Watkinson (Rotherham Yorkshire, England / Thomas Danby) netted an unassisted goal with only 38 seconds left on the clock in double overtime to secure a 4-3 victory against Allegheny College for the Heidelberg men’s soccer team. It was Watkinson’s first goal of the season and could not have come at a better time.
 
Heidelberg now stands at 2-4-1 on the year, while Allegheny holds a record of 2-4. During the contest, the Student Princes out shot the Gators 26-21, and did not record a single offsides while their opponents racked up 10.
 
"[The men] showed character, determination, commitment, and an ability to work for each other," commented head coach Brian Haley, "They thoroughly deserved the win as seen over the course of the game."
 
Allegheny scored first during the fourth minute when Pete Subasic kicked one into the back of the net off an assist by Colin Doherty. It took Heidelberg until over ten minutes into the second period to answer back with a goal of its own, which was scored by Mike Harling (Rochdale, England / Holy Cross) after receiving an assist from Kyle Anderson (Cincinnati, Ohio / Amelia).
 
The game turned bleak for the Berg after Allegheny scored two more goals off the feet of Subasic and Jimmy Breyer with only 20 minutes left on the clock. However, a ray of hope appeared in the form of sophomore newcomer Shane Nardellio (Coventry, England / Bishop Ullathorne) who dodged the Gator defenders and goalie Zane Miller in order to score twice, unassisted, in six and a half minutes to tie the game at 3-3 and send it into overtime.
 
Neither team managed to find its way to the back of the goal during the first overtime, but Heidelberg walked away victorious after Watkinson’s heroics in the second with only seconds left to go.
 
"We are now starting to get some players back from early season injuries and this helps. While we are do not have a fully fit squad yet, as some key players are still missing, we are looking more and more like a quality squad," stated Haley, "It takes six to seven games to get a team organized with new players coming in and integrating with the upperclassmen. The schedule has been a very good one and it showed last night - it will prove very useful for the Ohio Athletic Conference."
 
Brian Benson (Bay Village, Ohio / Bay) guarded the net for the Berg throughout the entire game and snatched six saves. Nardellio led the offense with six shots, four on goal, while Harling and Cory Buhrman (Brunswick, Ohio / Brunswick) each contributed two shots on goal as well.
 
Heidelberg suits up next to face off against Case Western Reserve University on Saturday, September 20, in Cleveland, Ohio at 7:30 p.m. It is a contest coach Haley has been waiting for; "Records at this stage are pretty much meaningless - it about preparation and getting ready to complete and win in the OAC," he said, "Our next match up offers us another quality opponent in Case Western, who was ranked 22nd in the nation in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America preseason poll. We are looking forward to the challenge."