COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – The Ursinus College men's soccer team accomplished a rare feat in Wednesday's non-conference night match with Marywood, coming out on top despite not scoring a goal – at least not off its own feet. Instead, two own goals by the Pacers, the last coming just over three minutes into double overtime, allowed Ursinus to steal a 2-1 victory in bizarre fashion under the lights at Patterson Field.
Sophomore Justin Molyneaux's long throw-in from the right side precipitated the strange game-ending sequence. A Marywood player headed the ball backwards and into the center of the box, where it caromed off another Pacer and into the back of the net to hand the Bears (3-3) an unprecedented golden goal. It is believed to be the first time in program history that Ursinus won a game on the strength of multiple own goals, without also scoring itself.
Wednesday's game marked the first time that Ursinus scored on an own goal since the 2013 season, when it happened three times.
Marywood (2-4) got on the board first on a pretty goal in the 5th minute. Daniel Gallagher sent in a cross from the right side, and Cody Gangware took it on a bounce and headed into the back of the net for a quick 1-0 lead.
The Bears used the first of two big breaks to equalize in the 67th minute. Senior Justin Mendez's dangerous free kick into the box deflected off the foot of a Marywood defender and into the bottom right corner of the net, giving Pacers keeper Patrick Brogan no chance to make a play.
Ursinus very nearly netted a last-second game-winner, but sophomore Ben Amaral's last-ditch effort was blocked away by an on-rushing Brogan as time expired, sending the teams into overtime. Amaral had a step on the Pacer back line, but Brogan did well to come off his line for a game-saving play.
The first 13 minutes of overtime passed without a shot for either side until Molyneaux's long throw somehow found its way into the back of the net without touching a teammate.
Amaral led all players with four shots for Ursinus, which held a slim 10-8 edge in shots and a 7-4 edge in corners. Sophomore Brandon Lillian took over for senior Vince Maiorino in the second half, and the Bears' keeper came out a winner after making two saves in just over 58 minutes of action.
Ursinus, which has gone into double overtime three times in its first six games, improved to 2-1 in such contests.
The men's soccer team is back to Centennial Conference play with a game at Dickinson on Saturday.
