Box Score Hartford, Conn. – The Trinity College Bantams and the visiting Westfield State University Owls played to a 1-1 double overtime draw in men's soccer action this afternoon. Trinity moves to 2-1-1 and the Owls are now 0-5-1. Finishing the game with a 39-to-7 shooting advantage, including a 10-to-1 edge in extra time, Trinity went ahead, 1-0, on the first career goal for sophomore forward Zach Cromwell (Scarsdale, N.Y.) in the 81st minute but the Owls quickly answered with their only goal of the game by sophomore back Cam Ritter (Agawam, Mass.) just three minutes later.
The majority of the game was spent in the Westfield defensive end, and Owl sophomore goalkeeper Alex Kraver (West Springfield, Mass.) was up to the challenge, making 13 saves including an early stop against Bantam junior Malcolm Joseph (Sudbury, Mass.) from close 15 minutes into the contest and a diving save against Bantam junior forward Cody Savonen (Orleans, Mass.) late in the first half.
Cromwell's goal came on a rebound, after Joseph and senior Jack Vogel (Northborough, Mass.) had both nearly broke the scoreless stalemate during frenzied action in the Westfield State box. The Owls tied it when junior back Tyler Martins (Ludlow, Mass.) launched a free kick that grazed the hands of Trinity sophomore goalie Mateo Zabala (Paterson, N.J.) before sailing over his head to Ritter who converted into an empty net. Trinity twice nearly went back ahead in the second half, but Kraver saved a redirected shot by Bantam sophomore Sam Milbury (Peabody, Mass.) and an offsides call nullified a late goal by Vogel.
In the first 10-minute overtime, Zabata made the second of his two saves in the game against Owl sophomore forward Connor Gilbert (Melrose, Mass.) to preserve the tie, and a shot from 12 yards out on the left wing by Trinity junior Mark Perreault (Southborough, Mass.) caromed off the post. Westfield State was called for a handball in the box with 4:24 left in the first overtime, awarding a penalty shot to the Bantams, but Trinity junior tri-captain Tobias Gimand (Fairfield, Conn.) clipped the cross bar with the attempt. Neither team came close to scoring in the second half of extra time.
