Box Score For immediate release – 9/11/2016 - #038
WildCats Tie Called in OT Due to Weather; Clinch NCWC Fall Classic Title
ROCKY MOUNT, NC – Due to lightning in the area, the Randolph College men's soccer game against Methodist University was called 1-1 in overtime on Sunday. However, despite the tie, the WildCats won the NCWC (North Carolina Wesleyan College) Fall Classic title, finishing as the only team out of four (Emory University being the fourth) without a loss.
After the game, three major tournament awards were handed out. With the WildCats winning the championship, two of the awards went to the team. Nate Juth was named as the Tournament MVP, while Frankie DiOrio was named as the Defensive MVP.
Just as with the game on Saturday, the 'Cats were the first team to get on the board. However, unlike the previous game, it took a little longer for that to happen. Joe Uzdavinis sent a cross into the box in the 40th minute, where Anthony Fonnesu was there. Fonnesu took his touch and fired it home to give the WildCats the 1-0 lead. It also marked an important mark for Uzdavinis, who registered his first point since the 2014 season, as he missed last year with an injury.
Despite the fact that the Monarchs registered more shots in the first half, the 'Cats kept the lead at 1-0. Erick Cortez-Martinez made three saves to hold them out going into the intermission.
Randolph looked as if it would leave North Carolina with two wins in the second stanza, but MU found one. Frederick Aalberg sent a pass to Tyler Ursuy, and he scored to tie the game in the 62nd minute. The game would need overtime and both Cortez-Martinez and his counterpart Jonathan Moore were called upon to make big stops.
However, with just over one minute remaining in the first overtime period, lightning entered the area. After a long delay, the game was called.
Moore made three saves in the game for Methodist (0-2-1), while Cortez-Martinez had five on the afternoon.
Randolph (2-1-1) will return home for the first time this season on Saturday. The WildCats host Birmingham-Southern College (3-0) in the first game of the Tiger/WildCat Classic. Kickoff at WildCat Stadium is set for noon.
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