DULUTH, Minn. – Playing with 10 men for more than 65 minutes, the St. Scholastica men's soccer team scored twice in the second half to rally past Central College, 2-1, Friday afternoon at Kenny Harkins Field. The Saints earned their third straight victory and improved to 5-5 overall.
Daniel Durney (Winchester, England) scored the equalizer early in the second half before Tim Bader (München, Germany/) delivered the game-winner in the 79th minute. Dylan Gies (Stavanger, Norway/) made eight saves, helping the Saints overcome a first-half deficit and a red card.
Central took a 1-0 lead at 23:15 when Fernando Reyes scored off an assist from Lucas De la Cuba. Just over a minute later, Ramses Huerta-Fuentes received a red card, leaving St. Scholastica shorthanded for the remainder of the match.
Gies made four first-half saves to keep the Saints within a goal entering halftime, despite Central holding a 9-3 advantage in shots.
St. Scholastica responded after the break. Durney tied the match at 53:05 with an assist from Tommy Zuzek (Lakeville, MN/Farmington HS), giving the Saints new life while still playing a man down.
Gies continued to hold Central scoreless in the second half, making four more saves. His final stop came in the 71st minute, preserving the tie before the Saints completed the comeback.
Bader put St. Scholastica ahead at 78:52, scoring off assists from Michael Nuqui (Wellingborough, England/) and Parker Chastey (Duluth, MN/Denfeld HS). The Saints protected the lead over the final 11 minutes to secure their third consecutive win.
Central finished with a 16-9 edge in shots and a 9-6 advantage in shots on goal, but St. Scholastica outshot the Dutch 6-7 in the second half and converted both of its goals while shorthanded. Zuzek led the Saints with two shots, both on target.
St. Scholastica travels to UW-Stout on Tuesday, October 6, for a 5 p.m. match in Menomonie, Wisconsin.
