Sunday, October 21, 2001

Howard comes away with 1-0 double-overtime victory

elani Scott scored into an open net from short range, 9:31 into the second sudden-death overtime in Howard’s 1-0 rain-soaked Atlantic Soccer Conference victory over Florida International Sunday night at University Park.

Howard’s Dave Mitchell pushed the ball toward the FIU goal but Golden Panthers goalkeeper Roy Rosenberg deflected it and was out of position when Scott picked up the loose ball and scored to the right near post for his second goal of the season.

It marked the seventh overtime contest of the year and fifth straight for the Bison who have now won four of their last five, raising their season mark to 4-6 (2-1 ASC). FIU, which had won five of its last six coming in, fell to 6-6 (3-2 ASC).

Howard had a chance at victory earlier in the first over overtime when Wade Nasir beat Rosenberg on a one-on-one opportunity, but the FIU keeper got just enough of the ball that defenseman Hendrix Emanuel was able to make a save by kicking it away just before rolling into the open net.

Howard goalkeeper Nigel Burgess recorded his second shutout of the year, turning away 13 shots as FIU out shot the Bison, 26-8 on the evening and had an 8-3 corner kick advantage.

As the stats would indicate, FIU had its opportunities to win the match in regulation. Matias Asorey, who led the team with seven shots, set the tone for the Golden Panthers when his scoring attempt 11:45 into the contest ricocheted off the post and bounced harmlessly away.

Then, in the second half, Howard’s Javad Shaw took down Asorey in the penalty box in the 49th minute. But a Landy Mattison’s penalty kick wa fired right at Burgess who recorded the save and preserved the shutout.

In the first overtime, the Golden Panthers had five more shots at the Howard goal, but three Burgess saves and a shot off the crossbar by Rafael Reyes frustrated FIU and sent the match into a second overtime period.

The Golden Panthers return to action next weekend for the FIU Classic, featuring non-conference foes Michigan, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Kentucky, next Sunday, Oct. 28 at 2:30 p.m.