DAHLONEGA, Ga. – Declan Okwu found himself in the right spot at the right time and scored a goal with 13 seconds left to ensure the Lander men's soccer team an improbable 3-3 draw at No. 2 North Georgia on Wednesday night in the Peach Belt Conference opener.
Henry Shehu made it a one-goal deficit in the 82nd minute to begin the late rally.
An untimely Nighthawks yellow card benefited the Bearcats in a big way with 27 seconds left. Granted a free-kick outside the 18-yard box near the UNG bench,
Felipe Costa dribbled the ball into the box and had his shot blocked.
Robin Swagemakers gathered it frenetically as his shot bounced off the crossbar, but it landed at the left foot of Okwu who had a vacant net in front of him to easily score the exciting goal. It was Okwu's second goal in as many games.
Textbook passes from
Omar Erwa and
Nathanael Mosiman set Shehu up in stride in front of the net for his finish. Lander (1-1-2, 0-0-1 PBC) picked up what could later prove to be a crucial point as UNG now sits at 4-0-2, 0-0-1 PBC.
The Nighthawks closed the first half with a goal in the 44th minute and opened the second half scoring in the 49th minute to gain a 3-1 advantage.
Chad Haynes got the Bearcats' mojo going early in the third minute with his first goal in an LU uniform.
Isaac Calderon answered with his first of two goals in the 17th minute to tie the match.
Jack Ammann made his presence known in relief of
James Docherty by making five saves across the final 31 minutes. Lander plays again this Saturday, Sept. 12 at home against Georgia Southwestern in a 4:30 start.
