2008 Woodie Awards
PC leaves it late, but snags two wins
Ryan Holt '09
Issue date: 10/12/06 Section: Sports
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Saturday, it defeated Big East foe Pittsburgh in overtime, 2-1. The Friars started the game off slow, giving the Panthers quite a few opportunities. Just 10 minutes into the game, Pittsburgh took an early 1-0 lead.
The Friars trailed at halftime. In the second half, however, they experienced an awakening. The defense tightened up, creating more opportunities on the offensive side. Their efforts culminated in a goal in the 65th minute by freshman Jonathan Medcalf. His goal tied the game at 1-1 and was his sixth of the year, tops for the team.
The tie lasted the length of regulation, leading to overtime. Six minutes into the extra frame, on a corner kick, junior Alex Bury netted the game-winner.
Despite the slow start, the Friars had momentum for much of the game. They outshot Pittsburgh 25-11. The win gives PC 18 points in Big East play, just one shy of first place West Virginia and Connecticut.
"I think we played real shaky at the beginning, our slowest start," said junior Ryan Maduro. "Luckily, it wasn't through the whole game. We came back and found a way to win."
"We came out slow," said Head Coach Chaka Daley. We fought back and played well. We outshot them. We came back and found a way to win. When we were behind, we did our best."
Daley added that if they had such a slow start Tuesday, they would have been buried. That day, cross-town rival Brown traveled to Glay for their annual match-up.
The rivalry certainly lived up to its billing. The game was hard-fought from kickoff to the final whistle.
"This was a typical PC-Brown game: Tough, tough, tough," said Maduro.
Hard hits and hustle was the name of the game that afternoon. It was obvious that both sides wanted this one.
"With Brown, it's fouls all around-whoever gets the last little scuffle gets it. It's always a battle," said sophomore forward Tim Ritter.