HOBOKEN, N.J. (October 10, 2009) – Despite a huge advantage in shots, possession, and field position for the Stevens Institute of Technology men's soccer team, the Ducks and Nazareth College played to a 0-0 draw on Saturday afternoon in an Empire 8 battle at the De Baun Athletic Complex. Stevens had numerous chances from start to finish but could not find the game-winner. With the draw, the Ducks move to 10-2-1 overall and 3-0-1 in the conference. Nazareth is now 6-4-2 overall and 2-0-2 in the Empire 8. Junior goalkeeper Zach Carr and the Stevens defense has not allowed a goal in 584:24 of game time.
Stevens completely dominated the first-half action but could not find the net as Nazareth goalkeeper Ryan Platt (Preston, England) was remarkable. The sophomore was credited with five saves as he denied several well-placed shots by the Ducks.
Stevens' first strong scoring chance came less than five minutes into the match when freshman Zach Adler received a pass from senior captain Todd Sheridan. Adler found himself one-on-one on the left side with Platt and took a shot towards the right post. Platt was able to get a hand on it and senior Liam Connolly (Stratham, N.H.) came out of nowhere to keep the ball from going in.
Junior Nolan Sandberg had the ball on the left side with 20:50 left in the first, made a great cut right across traffic and laced a shot from the top of the box and Platt made a horizontal save. Three minutes later, senior Chris Faustino made a perfect pass to Sheridan streaking down the middle, but Sheridan's laser was once again stopped.
Platt got his fingertips on a free kick that looked perfect off the foot of Adler and freshman Victor Daza took a rip from the right side that missed by inches at the end of the half as the two teams went into the break scoreless.
Stevens ended the opening period with a 15-3 advantage in shots and a 2-0 edge in corners.
The second half was similar to the first as the Ducks took five more shots and three more corners than the Golden Flyers.
Less than five minutes into the second, Stevens generated an excellent chance as Sandberg hit Johnson with a pass on the left side. Johnson made a move, beat his defender and ripped a low tracer that just missed wide left.
Two minutes later, Stevens was whistled for a foul to set up a Nazareth free kick from 25 yards out on the right. Alex Manchev (Sofia, Bulgaria) was able to head the service in but was offside by a wide margin and was immediately whistled for the infraction. That would be the best chance for the Golden Flyers.
With 20 minutes left, Sheridan looked to be in position to give the Ducks a 1-0 lead but once again, Platt came out, slowed up the shot with his fingertips and this time is was senior Mohamed Ahmed (Bronx, N.Y.) there to clear the ball at the last moment.
Stevens made some more runs throughout the rest of regulation and in the overtimes but just could not break through as the Nazareth defense hung tough all day. Johnson hit a post midway through the second overtime for good measure as the ball was in the Golden Flyer zone for the majority of the extra sessions.
Stevens ended the contest with a 32-12 advantage in shots and a 7-3 advantage in corners. Platt made a total of 13 saves, while Carr made four. The Stevens defense has not allowed a single goal in six games, and the Ducks are 5-0-1 during the stretch.
The last time Nazareth visited the Ducks the two teams went to double overtime as well with Stevens winning, 2-1. The Ducks will return to action on Saturday, October 17 when they visit Elmira College. Nazareth will visit St. John Fisher College on October 17.
