DUBUQUE, Iowa (Duhawks.com) – The Loras men's soccer team recorded their first draw of the season Sunday at home against the UW-Oshkosh Titans 2-2. For the second straight game, the Duhawks fell behind early on and had to go into overtime when regulation ended in a tie. The Duhawks' lone goal scorer was senior Mike Pizzello with goals in the 48' and 90'.
 
Loras fell behind in the first half when UW-Oshkosh's Danny Kobin found his way to the back post on a corner kick going unmarked by the Duhawk defense. Kobin was allowed to come inside the 18 and beat Loras goalkeeper Sean Elvert to the near post. Eight minutes later, the Titans' Javier Simon made a break through the middle of the field, scoring their second goal of the day.
 
In the first half, Loras had three shots and no corner kicks to Oshkosh's five shots and two corners. The Duhawks first half struggles continued as their opponents scored first for the fifth straight game.
 
Loras came out with new-found energy in the second half that paid off in the form of two goals. The first goal came in the 47' when Pizzello drove home a deflection from Oshkosh's defender in the box. With 20 seconds remaining, the Duhawks earned a corner. Needing a goal to force overtime, Loras sent every man into the box including Elvert. Bradley's in-swinger rebounded in the box making contact with multiple people before junior Kevin Higgins fed Pizzello in front of goal who sent home the equalizer.
 
Pizzello's goal merited the second consecutive overtime play for the Duhawks in the last week. Unlike Thursday's game, no one came out the hero and the game ended in a 2-2 draw after 110 minutes of play.
 
Game Changer
Pizzello's goal in the 47' completely changed the energy of the game giving the Duhawks a sense of hope. Until the goal, the team appeared lethargic and struggled to find an offensive presence. Loras recorded 11 shots in the second half coming up just shy of quadrupling their shots from the first half.
 
Key Stat
The draw is the Duhawks' first of the season but marks the second consecutive year they have tied the Titans in double overtime. In 2013, the teams played to a 0-0 draw after 110 minutes of play.
 
Notables

• The Duhawks have recorded 175 shots and have outshot their opponents every game so far this season
• Loras has two players tied with six goals each after today's game, senior Mike Pizzello and junior Jorge Simon
• In 2013, the Duhawks played extra time in five games with a record of 1-1-3 in overtime matchups. So far this season, Loras is 1-0-1.
• Loras leads the Iowa Conference in goals per game with 22 goals in eight games averaging 2.75 per game

 
 
Quotable
Junior Defender Sam Koenig
"We have the players and talent we need in our program to be successful. We just need to put in the effort and find it in ourselves to bring that success to the field."
 
Up Next
The Duhawks open up Iowa Conference play next Saturday at home against Central College. Kickoff is set for 4:30pm in the Rock Bowl. The game will be streamed live on the Duhawk Broadcast Network (www.duhawks.com/live)