UC Riverside
W. Illinois
Highlanders Earn Tie Against Western Illinois
9/21/2008 2:50:00 PM | Men's Soccer
The UC Riverside Men's Soccer Team (2-5-1) squared off Sunday afternoon against a Western Illinois squad that currently finds itself sitting just outside the top 25 rankings, emerging from a physical match with a 1-1 tie.
In all, 11 yellow and red cards were handed out in the match with the Highlanders sporting ten players on the pitch at game's end and the Leathernecks boasting just nine. The physical nature of the contest was heightened as the team's remained scoreless until midway through the second period.
Scoring chances were at a premium as the Highlanders took just five shots in the first half, and Western Illinois managed just two. At the 74:01 mark, Joel Crompton (Pleasanton, CA) picked up a yellow card setting up a penalty kick which Martin Browne promptly deposited into the back of the net for his fourth goal of the season and a 1-0 Leathernecks lead.
However, UC Riverside knotted the game at one apiece less than a minute later as Crompton scored on a penalty kick of his own. That score held up through the remainder of regulation and two overtime periods as well.
The Highlanders have nearly two weeks off before their next match - their home opener - on Thursday, October 2 at 7 pm against Houston Baptist. It will be the first home night game in the program's history.
