HAVERFORD, Pa. - The Haverford College men's soccer team battled visiting Muhlenberg College to a 0-0 double-overtime draw in a physical Centennial Conference contest at Walton Field on Saturday afternoon.
Entering Saturday's game with identical conference records, the Fords (8-3-1, 2-2-1 CC) and Mules (7-5-1, 2-2-1) were two of eight teams separated by just two points at the top of the Centennial standings. The afternoon's contest gave credence to the tight conference race as each team made the other work for every scoring opportunity throughout 110 minutes of scoreless action.
Sophomore Sam Yarosh registered two shots on goal in the opening 10 minutes of play but Muhlenberg goalie Danny Pinto (1-0-1) came up with two of his four first-half saves. Earning his second career start, Haverford netminder Sam Miller (1-0-1) had to make two saves over the initial 45 minutes of action.
Action picked up in the second half as the two squads combined for 13 shots with each goalie registering four saves. The Mules obtained one of their seven corner opportunities in the final minute of regulation but an offsides infraction ended the threat and the game headed to overtime.
The opening minutes of the first extra session saw Muhlenberg earn three straight corner opportunities but the Fords' defense had the answer each time. Haverford came close to ending the game four minutes later off a corner kick from senior David Robinson but Muhlenberg came up with a team save to keep the contest tied.
The second overtime produced Haverford's best scoring chance as Yarosh passed the ball out to an uncovered Robinson on the Fords' 10th corner kick of the day in the 107th minute of play. Looking for the fourth game-winner of his career, Robinson fired a ball that ricocheted off the near post and Pinto before bouncing out for a Mules' clear.
Each squad tallied 14 shots on the afternoon with Yarosh leading the way for Haverford with five. Pinto and Miller finished with eight saves apiece. The shutout performance by Miller was the first of his career.
In the second of three straight home games, the Fords welcome Rutgers University-Camden to Walton Field on Oct. 16. Haverford's final non-conference contest of the season will present another challenge as the Scarlet Raptors, ranked second in this week's National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) Division III poll, enter the game undefeated on the season (12-0-2).