SOCCER HOLDS FIRM, TIES PATRICK HENRY 3-3 IN REGION X ACTION

PETERSBURG, Va., (Sept. 24, 2015) -- On three separate occasions, the Richard Bland men's soccer team faced obstacles that in each unique case could have resulted in defeat. The Statesmen never withered, however, remaining steadfast in constant comeback mode, and fought visiting Patrick Henry Community College to a 3-3 double overtime tie in Region X play on Thursday afternoon at Statesmen Field. 

The Patriots, who were outshot in the contest 16-8, took a 2-0 lead over the Statesmen, only to see Richard Bland knot the contest at 2-2. Patrick Henry notched a go-ahead goal that was short lived after the Statesmen tied the contest 3-3 with ten minutes to play to force overtime. After a scoreless first overtime, Richard Bland was saddled with two red cards in the second overtime, forcing the Statesmen to play two players down. But a defiant and resilient RBC team refused to buckle, and earned a meaningful point in conference standings with the 3-3 deadlock. 

Undefeated in its last five games, Richard Bland now sits at 7-2-1, 5-2-1. Patrick Henry drops to 6-4-2, 3-1-1. The Statesmen face a quick turnaround, traveling to Harcum College, located in Bryn Mawr, PA., for a 4:30 p.m. game on Sunday. Patrick Henry travels to the University of South Carolina Lancaster for a 4:00 p.m. game on Saturday. 

"We had good pressure and controlled the game, and not for a couple mistakes early in the first half this would have been a victory," said head coach Eduardo de Souza. "In that regard I am disappointed in the result, but I am proud of the effort of our team, especially playing two men down in the second overtime." 

Moral victories notwithstanding, given Patrick Henry blanked Richard Bland 3-0 on Aug. 29, the Statesmen roared back into the game after the Patriots scored just 7:50 into the contest following a goal by Bernard Banaghan. At the 43:00 minute mark of the first half, Patrick Henry nudged ahead 2-0 on a goal by Elias Tamburini, who scored his 13th goal of the season, which is fourth best in NJCAA Division I.   

The Statesmen got back-to-back goals from freshman forward Sukrija Dudic (Srebrenica, Bosnia Hercegovina/Hermitage), the first coming a mere 15 second before intermission off an assist from sophomore forward Godfred Baisel (Cape Coast, Ghana/Patriot). Dudic's second goal, off a feed from sophomore forward Larry Sawyer (Freedom, Sierra Leone/Freedom) came just under five minutes into the second half. 

Patrick Henry took a 3-2 lead at the 58:37 mark of the second half when Cameron Emerson took a pass from Tamburini and tallied the go-ahed goal. Not to be deterred, Richard Bland tied the contest 3-3 when freshman center Jeffrey Pineda (Los Angeles, CA/Lake Braddock Secondary School) scored a brilliant goal off a give-and-go from Sawyer. 

Neither team was able to score in either overtime period, the second overtime forcing Richard Bland to play a 4-4 scheme while down two players.   

Richard Bland freshman keeper Ciro Labrada (Guanajuto, Mexico/Stonewall Jackson) made four saves in the contest, pushing his season total to 68, third best in NJCAA Divison I. Bayron Lobo made five saves for Patrick Henry.