Box Score

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – Junior Ryan Shaffer (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville) scored his first goal of the 2008 season and senior goalie Adam Finkel (Potomac, Md./Winston Churchill) made several outstanding saves to lead Gettysburg College to a 1-1 double-overtime tie with third-ranked Messiah College in men's soccer action at Clark Field on Wednesday night.

Gettysburg (1-1-2) ended a three-match losing streak to Messiah (3-0-1), the top team in the most recent Mid-Atlantic Region poll. Following a scoreless first period, the Bullets struck first as Shaffer won a ball at the top of the box from a Falcon defender, curled around the left side, and slammed a shot into the upper right corner of the net at 51:11.

Messiah, which held a 19-8 advantage in the shot department, came back just under nine minutes later. After a foul just outside the box on the baseline of Gettysburg's goal, Geoff Pezon sent an arcing pass just in front of the keeper. In the ensuing scramble for the ball, Danny Thompson managed to touch a shot through the backline of defenders and past Finkel for the equalizer.

That was the only blemish on Finkel's resume all night as the senior thwarted several Falcon scoring opportunities, beginning with a point-blank attempt by Nick Thompson in the sixth minute. He saved his best efforts for the final period and overtime, however, making five of his match-high six saves in the final 65 minutes. Possibly the highlight of his career came in the final minute of the first extra session when Trevor Lee fired an attempt from inside the top of the box. Finkel timed his jump perfectly, flying almost horizontally in the air to grasp the ball in his hands. He had some help in the second extra session as junior Ryan Peiffer (Doylestown, Pa./Central Bucks East) made a diving kick save on a screaming shot aimed for just inside the left post by Nick Thompson in the 101st minute.

Freshman Eric Hynes (Far Hills, N.J./Pingry School) posted three shots for Gettysburg, including two near-goals, one that was saved by Falcon keeper Jared Clugston and the other slamming off the bottom of the cross bar in the 76th minute.

Pezon and Thompson led Messiah with four shots each, while Clugston made a pair of saves.

Gettysburg remains at home for its next contest against Immaculata College on Saturday, Sept. 13. The match will take place at 7 p.m. under the lights at Clark Field.