(box score)
Widener got its opportunity to play at PPL Park and left with a 2-2 tie against Neumann in Chester, PA.
Widener broke the ice in the 18th minute. Sophomore DJ DiPaola (Havertown, PA) got the ball up top and fed a pass on the left to senior Eric Chrencik (Finksburg, MD), who slipped a shot under the goalkeeper and off a defender into the net.
Neumann would not be down for long, getting two goals in a span of 40 seconds for a 2-1 lead. Evan Morgan and Andrew Leissing each tallied in the 22nd minute.
Widener (3-3-1) had a golden chance to tie in the 53rd minute when junior Dan Lorenzet (Forest Hill, MD) headed one from the six-yard box ticketed for inside the left post. But goalkeeper Bob Mastrillo made a great diving save to preserve the lead.
The Knights (3-3-1) had their opportunity to widen the margin in the 62nd minute. Nathan Beideman had his shot in close headed away by Chrencik and Ryan Bushbeck also had his shot thwarted by the Pride defense.
That proved to be huge as Widener leveled the match three minutes later. DiPaola had it by the right sideline and played a great ball to freshman Derek Brubaker (Lancaster, PA), who headed it inside the right post for a 2-2 game.
Neumann had the best chance in overtime, but Bushbeck had his header stopped on a great diving save by freshman Jakub Valdner (Bratislava, Slovakia) in the final minute of the contest.
The Knights ended with a 26-11 shots edge.
Before the game, the Pride Cup that is given to the player each year who has contributed the most on and off the field was re-named the Fred Dohrmann Pride Cup. Dohrmann, Widener's softball coach, also served as men's soccer coach for 23 years and has been a part of Widener's athletics family since 1980.
The game served as a tremendous opportunity for Widener University, which entered a partnership as the official university of the Philadelphia Union, PPL Park and the Union's youth soccer partner partners, EPYSA and DYSA. The multi-tiered partnership that includes signage, television and web advertising spots not only aims to promote the growth of youth soccer in Chester but also to increase awareness of Widener University and its undergraduate and graduate academic programs.
PPL Park features a picturesque view of the Commodore Barry Bridge as well as the Delaware River. An average of over 17,000 fans have seen the Union, an expansion team this season in Major League Soccer, compete at the stadium this season.
Widener on Monday opens a three-game road trip at Philadelphia Biblical, beginning at 4:00 pm in Langhorne, PA.
