Story by Austin Cannon
Photos by Joel Venzke
A successful penalty kick from redshirt junior Jarred Arde with 16 seconds left in the game was the difference Friday night as the Drake men’s soccer team beat the University of Nebraska-Omaha 4-3.
In a game that seemed destined for overtime, the Mavericks committed a foul within their 18-yard box, and Arde stepped up to take the kick.
He then beat Omaha goalkeeper Matt Grosey, who saved a penalty kick in the first half.
After the game, head coach Sean Holmes was pleased to get the win.
“Obviously, we’re ecstatic about getting our first win of the season. Having played well at different times during the season, to finally bring it together I thought was very positive,” Holmes said in a Drake athletics press realease. “I think its good fortune whenever you get a penalty with 16 seconds left in the game but, to be honest, it was earned.”
It was Arde’s second goal of the game. He scored in the 30th minute off an assist from senior Nick Marshall to give Drake a 2-1 lead.
Nebraska-Omaha opened the scoring in the 14th minute when Craig Buettner directed a Chava Garcia corner kick into the back of the net.
Ten minutes later, Drake equalized. Arde and Danton sophomore Irelan executed a give and go inside the Omaha box and Irelan beat Grosey to the goalkeeper’s right side.
The second half started with the Bulldogs leading 2-1.
In the 58th minute, Nebraska-Omaha tied it back up. Chava notched his second assist of the evening by sending a ball into the box where Vance Rookwood headed it into the goal.
Chava waited five minutes before scoring a goal of his own.
A save by Drake goalkeeper Rich Gallagher rebounded out to Chava, who converted on the opportunity.
The Bulldogs entered the final 10 minutes of the game down 3-2.
In the 83rd minute, Drake once again tied it back up.
Senior Addison Eck took a free kick and sent it into the Maverick six-yard box.
There, Nick Marshall scored his first goal of the year, 3-3.
Arde converted the penalty in the 90th minute to give the Bulldogs their first victory of the 2013 campaign.
Holmes praised the play of Arde, who was involved in three of the four goals.
“He scores the winning penalty, he scores an absolutely terrific, I think it was the second, goal for us and set up the first. He was just all over the place,” Holmes said.
Arde and senior Bryan Jantsch both led Drake with four shots each.
Gallagher had six saves before being replaced by Darrin Macleod who blocked one shot.
Drake returns to the pitch on Tuesday to play DePaul University at Cownie Soccer Complex at 7 p.m.
