Men's Soccer Comes Back for 1-1 Draw with Rhode Island

Tuesday, September 6

Vidas Field

7:00

Drexel University

0-2-2

Rhode Island

2-1-1

OT 3

OT 4

Rhode Island

Drexel

Photo by: Greg Carroccio

Men's Soccer Comes Back for 1-1 Draw with Rhode Island

9/6/2016 9:33:00 PM | Men's Soccer

Box Score

PHILADELPHIA – Tyler Afflerbach came up with seven saves and Eden Ben Hemo scored a game-tying goal in the 80th minute on Tuesday evening as the Drexel men's soccer team got an uplifting 1-1 draw against Rhode Island in the Dragons' home opener. The draw marked the first time Drexel had fallen behind and come back to earn a draw or victory since Oct. 15, 2014 in a 2-1 double overtime victory over James Madison.

Ben Hemo scored his first collegiate goal in the 80th minute, perfectly heading in a pass from junior Colin McGlynn off a corner kick. Ben Hemo launched himself into the air and redirected it inside the far post to put Drexel (0-2-2) on the board.

The Dragons nearly had the game won twice in overtime. The first time, they were awarded a penalty kick in the 103rd minute, early in the second extra session. Freshman Robert Smith took it and would have claimed the game-winner if not for an outstanding diving save by Rhode Island goalkeeper Nils Leifhelm – matching the many acrobatic stops made by Afflerbach on the evening. Minutes later, it appeared Drexel had won on a Colin McGlynn goal, but it was ruled that they were offside and the goal was disallowed.

Neither team was able to get much going offensively in the first half. The Dragons were outshot 3-2 in the opening stanza, with Xavier Bou Hernandez getting off Drexel's best look. He took a feed breaking into the box to the left of Rhode Island goalkeeper Nils Leifhelm and had just Leifhelm to beat, but could not get a good angle as his shot tailed wide right.

Rhode Island, which had woken up offensively late in the first half, carried that over to begin the second. The Rams pumped four shots in on Drexel senior goalkeeper Tyler Afflerbach, including a low curler off the toe of Peder Kristiansen that forced Afflerbach to dive to his left for the save just inside the inside post in the 64th minute.

The fifth shot on goal of the half for the Rams, though, found paydirt. Stavros Zarokostas gained control on a breakaway down the right half of the field. As he entered the box, he rifled a shot to the upper right 90, a spot where there was nothing Afflerbach could do to stop it as he put Rhode Island on top in the 69th minute.

Following the Rhode Island goal, the Rams settled back into defensive positions and the Dragons were eventually able to take advantage. They earned nine corner kicks on the evening, including three in the second half. The pivotal one came with McGlynn providing the entry from the corner to Leifhelm's left. His low hooking ball found Ben Hemo lunging forward, and Leifhelm was helpless to stop it as the Dragons knotted things up.

The proceedings were physical on Tuesday night, with 40 fouls and five cards – four taken by Rhode Island – booked. Despite that, the young Dragons maintained their composure and were able to fight back on the field.

After four games in a little less than two weeks to open the season, the Dragons will now have a week to rest before their next contest. Drexel will take on Philadelphia Soccer Six rival Temple at Vidas Field next Tuesday night. That game kicks off at 7:00 p.m.