Two Late Goals Allow UConn To Tie Men's Soccer 2-2

Wildcats got goals from Charlie Rowan and Matt Sleece to gain a point

Matt Sleece scored a goal at 76:20 against Connecticut

Oct. 3, 2004

VILLANOVA, Pa. (Oct. 3) - With two late second half goals, the University of Connecticut (4-3-2, 2-0-1 BE) rallied back from a 2-0 deficit to tie Villanova (5-2-2, 3-2-1 BE), 2-2 in BIG EAST play on Sunday afternoon.

UConn was first to challenge on this sunny afternoon, just over five minutes in as senior Easton Wilson (Hartford, Conn.) redirected a centering feed from sophomore Steve Sealy (St. James, Trinidad), high over the crossbar.

Villanova, however, scored first as Brett Stassfurth (Gahanna, Ohio) fed a pass in front to Charlie Rowan (Livingston, N.J.) 11:09 into the first half to give the Wildcats a 1-0 lead. The goal was Rowan's first of the year and was the capper to a picturesque score.

The Huskies had another narrow miss as Wildcats' rookie goalkeeper Jason Friel (Dublin, Pa.) made a fingertip save on a header by Julius James (Maloney Gardens, Trinidad) at 40:17. Friel was making his first collegiate start in net for the `Cats.

In the second half, freshman Bonginkosi Macala (Pretoria, South Africa) attempted to put UConn on the board at 74:32 with shot at the top of the box, but Friel thwarted him with a save.

Villanova then took a 2-0 lead at 76:20, as a free kick off the foot of freshman Neil McNulty (Hampton, N.J.) came to classmate Matt Sleece (Clifton, N.J.) in the box. Sleece sent the ball home past Connecticut goalkeeper Adam Schuerman (Brookfield, Wis.) for his second goal of the campaign.

But, with 3:08 remaining in regulation, junior Willis Forko (Houston, Texas) put Connecticut back in the game as he capitalized on a scramble in front to score the Huskies first goal of the contest. Less than one minute later, Wilson netted the equalizer for UConn off a pass from junior Drew Brown (Middletown, Conn.) at 87:45.

Sophomore Kevin Burns (Greenfield, Ind.) attempted at 107:24 to give the Huskies the win in the second overtime, but Friel made a diving save to preserve the tie.

Villanova is back in action at the University of Maryland on Wednesday evening in a clash that gets underway at 7:00 p.m.

Villanova University