PORTALES, N.M. — Facing a deficit as the clock clicked toward the end of regulation, the Newman men's soccer team grabbed a late goal to tie it as it worked for a 1-1 draw against Eastern New Mexico in Heartland Conference action Thursday night.
KEY SEQUENCE
Dominating possession but trailing on the scoreboard, the Jets (6-3-2, 4-1-2, 14 pts Heartland) started a charge with a flurry of shots that resulted in a corner kick in the 84th minute. The corner got out to Marian Saar high in the right corner of the box, and the senior knocked his shot home for the equalizer against the Greyhounds (4-5-2, 2-4-1, 7 pts Heartland).
SCORING PLAYS
49'-ENMU- Robert Raspudic, unassisted. A long shot from Raspudic found its way to the back of the goal to give the Greyhounds an early lead.
84'-NU-Marian Saar, unassisted. An Ed Jabbari corner slipped through to the right side of the box, where Saar put up a shot from just inside the box to tie it.
HOW IT HAPPENED
-It didn't take long for Newman to get on the attack, as Carlos Rubio Garcia got off a shot in the fifth minute and Jamie Barkway followed with a header in the eighth, both of which needed saving by ENMU keeper Jamie Gutierrez.
-Another quick sequence saw the Jets awarded a pair of corners around the 12th minute. Ed Jabbari was able to turn each into a shot, but his charges went high and wide. The Greyhounds were able to get their first offensive opportunity with a shot in the 14th that sailed wide.
-Action slowed down a bit to close the first half, although Vince Couto, Marian Saar and Tommy Fiszel each put up a shot for the Jets before the break.
-The hosts picked up the first score of the game in the 49th, but the Jets got right back on the offensive. Three corners in a three-minute span didn't produce any shots, but a fourth of the second half helped lead to an Adam Sawyer shot.
-Rubio Garcia forced another save from ENMU in the 72nd, and a minute later a red card against the Greyhounds put the hosts at a disadvantage the rest of the way.
-Barkway and Connor Rackley started the late charge for the Jets, each putting a shot on goal in the 83rd that eventually led to the corner that ended in Saar's equalizer in the 84th. A shot by Luca Anelli was blocked and one from Jabbari was saved to keep the game tied and send it to overtime.
-There were no shots in the first session of extra time, although the Jets were whistled for offsides twice and picked up a late corner. ENMU made everyone hold their breath with a shot in the 103rd, but it sailed wide and would be the only shot of overtime.
NOTES
-The Jets controlled nearly all facets of the game, outshooting ENMU 15-5 overall, 8-1 in shots on goal and 11-2 in corners. Newman was also called for offsides eight times to three for the Greyhounds.
-Newman has now earned a win or a draw in eight of its past nine games.
-The score was Saar's third of the season, and first during live action. His previous two came in the past 10 days, both on penalty kicks, including one to beat No. 18 Midwestern State.
WHAT'S NEXT
The Jets finish up their long roadtrip with a matchup against West Texas A&M Saturday afternoon at 1.
