Lions Earn a Draw With Newberry

MARS HILL, N.C. – The Mars Hill men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 draw against Newberry on Saturday, October 22 at Meares Stadium. The Lions are now 6-8-1 overall and 4-5-1 in the conference, while NC is 4-9-2 overall and 2-6-2 in the league.

For the second consecutive game Stian Sanner gave the Lions a lead early in the match. In just the 10^th minute Elliot Tate sent a perfect ball into the box that Sanner blasted past the keeper for the 1-0 lead.

The Lions defense was stellar throughout the first half as that goal would stand at the end of 45 minutes. Newberry held a slight 4-3 advantage in shots during the first half, while Mars Hill controlled corner kicks, 4-2.

Newberry's Claus Simonsen Lehland was able to tie the match at 1-all in the 49^th minute following a free kick from the 20-yard line that just snuck past Kristopher Wennin.

Defenses were primed for the remainder of regulation as neither team could post another goal, sending the match into overtime.

After an uneventful first extra session, Ian Wu had a perfect chance to end the game on a free kick. However, the ball was struck just a little too hard and sailed over the top of the cage. Cameron Macer was also given a golden opportunity to pick up the win for the Lions. With the goalie out of the picture and only a defender to beat, Macer's kick was saved by Nico Vallejos, which would ultimately lead to the 1-1 finish.

Wu and Oscar Mitchell paced the Lions with two shots each, while Wennin played all 110 minutes in goal, collecting three saves.

Prior to this afternoon's match, head coach Gary Hamel honored the team's three seniors, Thor-Joakim Stenberg, Amine Merdjett, and Mark Hartmann, for their contributions to the Mars Hill men's soccer program.

Mars Hill will return to the pitch on Saturday, October 29, traveling to Anderson, S.C. to take on the Trojans in the last regular season contest. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:30 p.m.