BEREA, Ohio – Playing in their second overtime game of the week and third in four games, the Baldwin Wallace University men's soccer team and Ohio Athletic Conference foe Wilmington College played a physical game of momentum swings to a 3-3 tie in double overtime.
For the third game in a row, BW (4-7-2, 0-2-1 OAC) was able to take a two-goal advantage in the first half. Sophomore All-OAC forward Danny Ruple (Berea/Berea-Midpark) had a ball played from right to left by sophomore midfielder Joey Geither (Parma/Normandy). Ruple worked his way past three defenders and ripped his 12th goal of the season in the 16th minute. The Yellow Jackets then took a 2-0 lead off the foot of freshman forward Michael Snowball (Pittsburgh, Pa./Fox Chapel) in the 31st minute. Snowball only just subbed into the game a minute earlier and scored on his first touch of the game, stealing a square pass from the defenders across the box and sunk the ball into the top corner.
Wilmington (6-5-2, 0-2-1 OAC) quickly answered with back-to-back goals in the 34th minute to tie the game up at 2-2.
At halftime, the Yellow Jackets took the time to honor their new Hall of Fame Inductee Louie Rolko '07. Surrounded by family and friends on Lee Tressel Field, Rolko remembered his stellar career that featured four All-OAC selections and a two-time OAC Midfielder of the Year award among his many other honors.
In the second half, junior forward Logan Davis (Mentor) regained the lead for the Yellow Jackets in the 54th minute. Ruple spun a defender around in the left corner and played the ball to the top of the box where Davis came across from the left side and hit the ball off the bottom of the post and into the net.
The Quakers evened up the score once again with a goal from JC Brewer in the 75th minute. Both teams battled for the final 15 minutes to send the game into overtime, marking the second consecutive overtime game for the Yellow Jackets.
BW had multiple opportunities for the golden goal, taking seven shots across both overtime periods. Davis took a shot in the 102nd minute that was just barely saved off the goalie's fingertips.
After learning he would be the starter during warmups due to a last minute change, sophomore goalkeeper Patrick Mehal (Richfield/Revere) made eight saves to keep the Yellow Jackets in all 110 minutes.
BW will be back in action on Wednesday, Oct. 11, when it travels to take on OAC and crosstown rival John Carroll University at 7:00 p.m.
