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BLOOMSBURG – The Bloomsburg University men's soccer team gave fans some extra time to admire the new turf at Steph Pettit Stadium and nearly came away with a win with a flurry in front of the St. Thomas Aquinas net in the waning seconds before settling for a 0-0 draw in double overtime Thursday afternoon.
 
The match was the season-opener for both teams with each now standing at 0-0-1.
 
Bloomsburg dominated the time of possession during the second half, putting together several strong scoring chances.
 
Brian Kilcoyne (Bensalem/Bensalem) had the first second half pressure with a great chance, firing a shot on net from directly in front during the 67th minute, but Spartans' keeper Nicholas Palumbo was able to make the save to preserve the tie.
 
The Huskies brought pressure again in the 80th minute with a breakaway, but the Bloomsburg attacker was taken down by contact that resulted in a red card for an Aquinas defender. It was the beginning of several minutes of stress from the Huskies on the Aquinas defense.
 
Bloomsburg applied the pressure again with its best opportunity of the half coming during the 82nd minute.
 
The hosts fired off three shots in the span of 50 seconds – first James Kiama (Shippensburg/Shippensburg) had a shot on goal that bounced off Palumbo before Brett Milden (Mullica Hill, NJ/Clearview Regional) delivered another shot on goal 45 seconds later. Palumbo made the save, but Kris Gross (Perkasie/Penn Ridge) won a free ball in front and narrowly missed putting the Huskies ahead when he caught the bottom of the crossbar, above a leaping Palumbo. Luckily for Aquinas, however, the ball deflected harmlessly away to keep the teams deadlocked.
 
Huskies keeper Jared Ott (Philadelphia/Archbishop Ryan) made two saves in the final three minutes of regulation to send the match to extra time.
 
The Huskies had one shot on goal during the first overtime, while Aquinas had none. In the second overtime, Ott turned away a shot from Duncan Kasibante in the 108th minute for the Spartans' best chance.
 
Bloomsburg nearly broke through in the final seconds. Nick Izzo (Frankford, DE/Indian River) put a shot right on from in front, but was denied by Palumbo in the 108th minute. Spencer Conrad (Enola/East Pennsboro) then had a shot blocked in front as the last minute began, followed by a pair of corner kicks from the Huskies. With five seconds to go, Stephen Pieri (Chalfont/Central Bucks South)'s shot was deflected away by a defender, allowing Samuel Izzo (Frankford, DE/Indian River) one final chance. Izzo put a shot on goal from less than 10 yards out, but Palumbo again remained solid in the net for another save at the final buzzer.
 
Perhaps the best chance for Aquinas came at the end of the first half when a shot off the far wing from Kasibante nearly went in top shelf, but Ott made the leaping save, deflecting the ball into the crossbar.
 
St. Thomas Aquinas held a 9-4 edge in shots during the first half, but the Huskies turned the tables for a 9-5 advantage following intermission. In all, Bloomsburg claimed a 19-17 edge in shots and a 12-7 margin in shots on goal.
 
Kiama placed three shots on goal to lead the Huskies attack while Kasibante had four for Aquinas.
 
Ott made an impressive debut in net, making seven saves in his first appearance as a Husky. Palumbo was just as strong on the other side, turning away 12 shots.
 
The Huskies are off until Sept. 13 when they travel to NYIT.
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