READING, Pa. - The Arcadia University men's soccer team played to a hard-fought, 1-1 draw Thursday night at Alvernia to pick up a crucial point in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Commonwealth standings. After trailing by a goal at the half, Duncan O'Connor brought the Knights even with the Golden Wolves with a 57th minute score while Jake Varrato and the Arcadia back line held strong over the final 84-plus minutes to pick up the result.

Varrato made a game-high six saves in the match, including a penalty kick save in the 86th minute to send the game to overtime.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-The Golden Wolves were first on the board Thursday night with a 25th minute tally, capitalizing on a loose ball off a deflection to take an early advantage all the way into the half. The Knights had their chances with ten shots in the opening 45 minutes, but were held in check to begin the night.

-The Knights were quick to provide the equalizer in the second half when Keegan Bower offered a ball in from the left side to O'Connor, who then beat the last defender in his way and buried the ball bottom left in the 57th minute for his team-leading sixth goal of the season.

-A foul in the box in the 86th minute resulted in an Alvernia penalty kick to ultimately decide the contest, but Varrato came up huge diving save to his left with a save on the attempt to send the game to overtime.

-The Knights fended off five Alvernia shots between the two overtime periods, resulting in the 1-1 draw.

KNIGHT LEADERS
-Goals: O'Connor (6)
-Assists: Bower (2)
-Points: O'Connor 2 (13), Bower (8)
-Saves: Varrato 6

TEAM COMPARISON
-The Knights were outshot, 15-12, on the night. The Golden Wolves also held a narrow, 7-6 edge in shots on goal.
-Both sides finished regulation with with an even ten total shots.
-Alvernia took nine penalty kicks opposite the Knights' two, with both of Arcadia's coming in the second half.

UP NEXT
Arcadia (6-7-2, 1-1-2 MAC Commonwealth) hosts Albright Saturday in a conference matchup scheduled for 1 p.m.