Pioneer men hold off upset-minded Saint Vincent for 3-2 win
Marietta ties school record for longest unbeaten streak

Sept. 20, 2008
MARIETTA, Ohio — After trailing by one goal late in Saturday (Sept. 20) afternoon's non-conference match-up with visiting Saint Vincent (Pa.) College, the Marietta College men's soccer team rallied for two goals in a three-minute span to escape with the 3-2 victory at Marietta Field. The win improved Marietta's record to 5-0-2, while Saint Vincent fell to 3-4. The win also helped the Pioneers tie the school record for longest unbeaten streak, matching a feat accomplished in 1996 (4-0-3) and 2002 (7-0-0).

The Pioneers broke through in the first 23 seconds after junior Deric McDonald (Vienna, W.Va./Parkersburg) scored his fifth goal of the year. McDonald beat a defender down the left side and then the keeper with a shot inside the right post.

Saint Vincent responded at the six-minute mark after Bearcat forward Luis Rodriguez converted a penalty kick. The penalty kick was given after he was fouled in the box by Marietta goalkeeper Steve Hagenau (Clearwater, Fla./Central Catholic). The Bearcats then took the lead when Rick Fec finished a ball that was bobbled by Hagenau inside the six-yard box in the 35th minute.

The Pioneer defense, however, buckled down in the second half, giving the Bearcats very limited looks. Junior Dele Adedapo (Gahanna/Bexley) found the ball at his feet on the left side of the 18-yard box and calmly placed the ball in the net to tie the score at 2-2 in the 75th minute.

Senior Seita Kawamoto (Ebina, Kanagaua, Japan), the hero in Wednesday (Sept. 17) evening's 2-1 win at Kenyon, managed to beat a Bearcat defender and then the goalkeeper in the 77th minute to score his second straight game winner for the Pioneers.

The Pioneers held the edge in shots, 21-8, and in shots on goal, 11-6. McDonald and Adedapo combined for nine shots, five on goal.

Hagenau finished the day with four saves. Bearcat goalkeeper Brandon Bower had eight saves.

Marietta will return to action Sunday (Sept. 28) afternoon when it takes on Thomas More (Ky.) College. Kickoff at Marietta Field is slated for 2 p.m.