CALDWELL, N.J. - After surrendering three first-half goals, the Caldwell College men's soccer team scored twice in the game's final 10 minutes to tie Goldey-Beacom College 3-3 in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference match Saturday afternoon at Caldwell Field. The draw gives the Cougars a 1-1-2 conference record (5-2-2 overall), while the Lightning are now 1-1-1 in the CACC and 2-9-1 overall.

The Cougars dominated play early and got on the scoreboard in the 19th minute, when freshman Jan Marco Jiras (Lima, Peru) finished a centering pass from sophomore Bard Skjelstad (Bodo, Norway) from 10 yards out. But just four minutes later, the Lightning tied the game on Matt DiGiacobbe's tally in the 23rd minute.

Goldey-Beacom surged into the lead when Bruno Farias headed in a corner kick by Dan DiGiacobbe in the 31st minute. Matt DiGiacobbe's second goal of the game in the 40th minute gave the Lightning a two-goal lead. DiGiacobbe collected a through pass from Jon Hundley and beat Cougars' goalkeeper Mike Turdo (West Paterson, NJ/Passaic Valley) from 18 yards.

Despite out-shooting Goldey-Beacom 17-5 in the first half, the Cougars found themselves trailing 3-1 at halftime.

Early on in the second half, Caldwell's best scoring chance came in the 53rd minute, when Skjelstad's header that was heading towards the right side of the goal was headed off the goal line by a Lightning defender. The Cougars finally broke through in the 81st minute, when junior Uke Dauti (West Orange, NJ/West Orange) took a pass from Skjelstad and scored from 14 yards out. Dauti almost got the equalizer in the 82nd minute, but his hard shot from 15 yards was saved by Bryan Rudden.  

Finally, in the 85th minute, Skjelstad and Jiras worked a give-and-go down the left flank that put Jiras inside the Lightning penalty area. Jiras beat Rudden from 15 yards to complete the comeback. It was the second goal of the game for Jiras, and the third assist for Skjelstad, the CACC and ECAC Player of the Week last week.

Caldwell continued to apply pressure into overtime, with nine total shots during the two 10-minute periods. Sophomore Jorge Ibarcena (Lima, Peru) had the best chance for the game-winner in the 105th minute, when he hit a volley from 35 yards out that was just tipped over the top of the goal by Rudden.

For the game, Caldwell peppered Rudden with 42 total shots, forcing him to make 18 saves. Turdo made one save for the Cougars.

Caldwell College is back in action on Tuesday, Oct. 5, when they play at Teikyo Post. Game time is set for 4:00 p.m.

CC - 1 2 0 0 - 3

GBC - 3 0 0 0 - 3

Scoring Summary: 1. CC - Jan Marco Jiras 2 (Bard Skjelstad, Saah Hali), 18:17. 2. GBC - Matt DiGiacobbe 1 (Jason Carty), 22:22. 3. GBC - Bruno Farias 1 (Dan DiGiacobbe), 30:30. 4. GBC - M. DiGiacobbe 2 (Jon Hundley), 39:44. 5. CC - Uke Dauti 2 (Skjelstad), 80:11. 6. CC - Jiras 3 (Skjelstad), 84:55.

Shots: CC - 42; GBC - 7

Saves: Turdo, CC - 1; Rudden, GBC - 18; Team, GBC - 1

Corner Kicks: CC - 8; GBC - 4

Fouls: CC - 15; GBC - 14

Offsides: CC - 4; GBC - 3

Yellow Cards: CC - Moynihan (23:45); Dauti (96:00); GBC - Kamin (37:23); Hundley (38:42); Rudden (63:12)