University of Delaware Athletics
James Madison Hands Hens Heartbreaking 3-2 Overtime Loss (Oct. 9, 2011)
10/9/2011 2:53:00 PM | Men's Soccer
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NEWARK, Del. -- Senior forward Evans Frimpong accounted for all four University of Delaware goals this week, but his pair on Sunday afternoon were not enough as the Blue Hen men's soccer team fell to James Madison University 3-2 in a heartbreaking overtime loss.
The sudden-death loss snapped a nine-game winning streak at Delaware Mini-Stadium for the Hens, but with Frimpong's pair of markers, the Hens have scored a goal in their last 11 home games. James Madison, which received votes in the NSCAA/adidas National rankings, halted an eight-game home Colonial Athletic Association winning streak for the Hens.
Delaware (7-2-1, 2-2-0 CAA) scored its 21st and 22nd goals of the season, just one shy of the 23 scored by the 2009 team, the highest goal total under sixth-year head coach Ian Hennessy.
James Madison's leading scorer Patrick Innes scored a pair of goals, including the game-winner with 36 seconds left in the first overtime period. Boyd Reid accounted for the Dukes' third goal. Brandon Paul suffered his first loss in goal for Delaware this season while making two saves.
Innes put the Dukes (8-1-1, 4-0-0 CAA) on top early, ripping a 30-yard shot to the top right corner of Delaware's goal. Christian McLaughlin was credited with the assist.
But in the 37th minute, Frimpong knotted the game after splitting his defender and faking the Duke goalkeeper, Justin Epperson, to score his eighth goal of the year. The Frimpong tally was the first James Madison had allowed in five games dating back to a 4-1 loss against No. 5 North Carolina. Epperson kept a clean slate for 455 minutes before Frimpong posted his goal.
James Madison again grabbed the lead after Paul Wyatt scored his fifth goal of the year. Wyatt beat his defender after receiving a pass from McLaughlin and finished to the right post.
Just three minutes later, Frimpong again knotted the action at 2-2. After the Dukes' defensive unit mishandled the ball, the Hens' leading scorer extended his right leg and toe-poked the ball into the back of the net, going around Epperson.
The two teams could not find the back of the net over the course of the second half, and with things still knotted at two apiece, the game headed to overtime, the Hens' second extra time game of the year.
Penalty cards were abundant in the game, including one on Darren O'Connor with 36 seconds left in the first overtime period, setting up the Innes game-winner.
Frimpong, who is having a career season with nine goals and three assists for 21 points, is the first Hen to eclipse the 20-point mark since Sobhan Tadjalli, who had 25 (11g, 3a) in the 2004 season. Frimpong has the highest point total since Hennessy took over the program in 2006.
The Hens managed nine total shots, putting three of those attempts on cage. In addition to Frimpong's two, junior Ben Raymond posted Delaware's third shot on goal, Epperson's only save of the game.
James Madison was called for 18 fouls, including two yellow cards while Delaware received three yellows.
Delaware hits the road on Wednesday when the Hens make the short trip to Philadelphia to face CAA rival Drexel University. Game time is set for 7 p.m. at Vidas Field.
