Dragons battle to 4-4 double OT tie

Dragons battle to 4-4 double OT tie

In a wild battle that had huge ramifications on Tiffin University's conference championship aspirations, the Dragons (11-3-2, 9-3-2 GLIAC) came back multiple times to force a 4-4 double overtime tie against Saginaw Valley State.

Having lost at Saginaw Valley State 2-1 earlier this season, TU hoped for a win in the rematch. But after a quick goal by the Cardinals in the 8th minute, the Dragons were put in the position of having to comeback.

TU first cracked the scoreboard in the 32nd minute when Andre Landell converted a penalty kick to tie the score. They then took the lead just two minutes later when Austin Combs took a loose ball and hit it from 20 yards out to give TU a 2-1 lead.

Saginaw Valley State rallied and scored a goal in the 44th minute to make the score 2-2 at the half.

The Dragons once again took the lead in the 60th minute when Michael McPeek knocked home a pass from Michael Bottomley to give the Dragons a 3-2 lead.

The Cardinals showed just as much determination as the Dragons, though, as SVSU converted a corner kick in the 68th minute to tie the score and then took the lead in the 74th minute on a ball that arched over goalkeeper Cary Wilson's hand to give the Cardinals a 4-3 lead.

Time looked to be running out when the Dragons made a last second run that paid off when McPeek took a through ball from Scott Byrom and scored a dramatic goal with 12 seconds left to force overtime.

TU outshot SVSU 5-2 in the two overtime periods, but could not get the gamewinner. Wilson made 6 saves over 110 minutes in the game.

Overall TU outshot the Cardinals 22-18, including a 16-11 margin over the final 65 minutes. The Cardinals, however, held a commanding 13-6 edge in corner kicks.