PEORIA, Ill. (GreenBayPhoenix.com) - From one extreme to the next,
weather during the opening weekend for the Green Bay men's soccer season
altered play once again as the Phoenix traveled to Bradley University Saturday.
After the Phoenix battled 104 degree temperatures in its 1-0 win over SIUE
Thursday, its game against the Braves was delayed 90 minutes due to storms and
lightning in the area.
Like the SIUE game, the Phoenix
did not let conditions alter its game plan as Green Bay (1-0-1) battled Bradley
(3-0-1) to a 1-1 tie Saturday at Shea Stadium.
In the 26th minute Sam Krenzien
(Wauwatosa, Wis.) had a great look at the goal but his shot attempt was saved inside
the net by Bradley goalkeeper Brian Billings. Two minutes later Bradley scored
after Jeffrey Cecil was able to beat Ryan Wehking (St. Louis, Mo.) to a loose
ball for the 1-0 advantage.
With just 34 seconds remaining in
the first half of play, Green Bay sophomore Luke Goodnetter (Elm Grove, Wis.) scored
his first collegiate goal after firing a shot that kissed the inside of the
left goal post to tie the contest 1-1 at the break.
In the first half, Green Bay fired
three shots while Wehking had six saves on the Braves' seven attempts on goal.
With less than 15 minutes
remaining in the second half, Green Bay's Stuart Grable (Neenah, Wis.) took the
free kick opportunity for the Phoenix but after two chances it was unable to
convert. With less than five minutes remaining the Braves set up for its own
free kick opportunity but also could not convert, sending the shot wide left.
The Braves, who entered the
contest ranked No. 6 in the Midwest Region, outshot Green Bay 8-2 in the second
half of play as its defense held against preseason All-American Bryan Gaul and the
attack of Bradley to send the game into overtime.
With just over four minutes to
play in the first overtime period, Grable found Alonso Flores (Chicago, Ill.) who
had a good look at the goal but his shot went high over the bar. Bradley fired
three shots in the first extra period compared to Green Bay's two.
In the aggressive second overtime
period each team was issued a yellow card while Bradley was whistled for 18 fouls
compared to Green Bay's 13 in the game.
The Braves outshot the Phoenix
24-9 in the 1-1 tie as Green Bay did not take a single corner kick throughout
the entire 110 minutes of play. Wehking finished with nine saves.
Green Bay will have two more
games on the road before its home opener as it prepares to head to the UNLV
Tournament Friday, Sept. 9 to face CS-Fullerton (2-0-1) before battling UNLV
(1-1-1) Sunday, Sept. 11.
The Phoenix will kick off the
Green Bay Soccer Classic Friday, Sept. 16 at Aldo Santaga Stadium.
