Late drama sends Storm to draw in Nebraska

LINCOLN, Neb. - More late drama sent Simpson men's soccer team to a 2-2 draw at Nebraska Wesleyan, Wednesday, at Abel Stadium.

The game started fast for the Storm (10-3-3, 3-1-3 A-R-C) with Nebraska Wesleyan goalkeeper Zachary Weis coming well off his line to clear a ball in the first minute of the game. Mateaus Lewis had the first shooting chance for the Storm, turning in a crowd of players at the top of the box, but seeing his shot saved by Weis.

Andrew Russell came forward in the 26th minute, getting to the endline, turning his marker, and being taken down in the box for a penalty kick. Baraka Ellie stepped up and dispatched the penalty, but the referee ordered a retake after Ellie was adjudged to have stutter-stepped during his run up. Ellie went the same way, with the same run up, but Weis saved it this time. Lewis played the ball directly back into the box, where it was met by an on-rushing Ricardo Ibarra, whose header was again expertly blocked by Weis.

The only chance of the half for the Prairie Wolves (5-6-3, 3-1-2 A-R-C) came 10 minutes from the halftime whistle, with leading scorer Logan Lawrence heading high over Storm goalkeeper Nate Hersom's crossbar.

As in their last match, the second half was wild with goals and drama under controversial circumstances. The Storm continued to be the aggressor, with Ronaldo Ordaz and Ibarra each firing shots in the first five minutes of the half. The Prairie Wolves responded with a header going close from Alex Aguilar off a corner and then came close again off another set piece.

The last 15 minutes provided all the entertainment, starting with the Storm opening the scoring. Roderick Orellana-Lemus fired a free kick across the box that was miskicked by a Prairie Wolves defender into the net. The Storm doubled their lead with under 10 minutes to go, as some slick combination play found Ellie at the top of the box, who was able to get the ball to Matt Hasken. Hasken's sweetly struck half volley beat Weis to his right to give Simpson a 2-0 lead.

Nebraska Wesleyan earned a penalty kick five minutes before the final whistle. The attacker went down near the edge of the box, despite minimal contact from the Simpson defender. The center referee awarded a penalty and spoke with his assistant before confirming the decision which Alex Kohler scored.

Only about a minute later, the Prairie Wolves earned another penalty in stunning fashion. The attacker seemed to fall down under light contact near the box once again. The center referee this time conferred with his assistant before awarding another penalty, despite louder protests from Simpson. Kohler stepped up again, with Hersom almost saving it, but the shot just beat him to tie the match.

Stunned, Simpson had to defend one more free kick with 20 seconds left, which a Nebraska Wesleyan attacker header just wide.

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