Men's Soccer Battles to 2-2 Stalemate with Fisher

NEW LONDON, Conn. – The Mitchell College men's soccer team battled to a 2-2 tie in double overtime against Fisher College on Saturday afternoon at Alumni Field.

Freshman forward Andrew Storton tallied both goals for the Mariners to notch his first collegiate points. Storton scored both goals within a six-minute span in the second half to put Mitchell on top 2-1. Fisher netted the equalizer with less than four minutes to play in regulation off the foot of Gary Maldonado. 

The Falcons jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 23rd minute when a strike by Tyler Gahara found the back of the net. His finish marked the only goal of the half, and Fisher carried 1-0 advantage into the second 45 minutes of play.

Storton went to work in the 60th minute when he fought off a defender to secure a deflected cross from teammate Juan Perez inside the 18. He then slipped a shot inside the left post to even the game at 1-1. Storton put the Mariners on top in the 66th minute, collecting a throw-in from Zack Rocheleau and beating the goalkeeper from a tough angle for the go-ahead tally.

The one-goal margin stood until the 87th minute of the contest. Fisher's Gabriel Marquez nearly tied the game with a shot that goalkeeper Romer Ochoa punched over the crossbar. On the ensuing corner kick, Maldonado found himself in front of the goal with a clear shot and buried the tying goal into the right side. 

Mitchell and Fisher pushed numbers forward during both overtime periods, but the game clock expired before either was able to secure its game-winner. The best scoring chance in extra time came in the 102nd minute when Mitchell's Andris Vital broke free for a shot on the left side but sent a rocket off the crossbar.

Ochoa finished with 8 saves while starter Anthony Drake made four for the Mariners. Fisher goalkeeper Eliseau DiPena finished the day with two stops against 13 shots. 

Mitchell (1-2-1 overall) will next play at Mount Ida College on Wednesday, September 16 at 7 p.m. Fisher (1-1-1 overall) returns to action with a trip to Daniel Webster College on Wednesday, September 16 at 4 p.m.