WATERBURY, Conn. – Late-game magic for Post University Men's Soccer struck in the 89th minute as graduate midfielder Luis Rodrigues connected on a 25-yard free kick to tie the match for the Eagles against Goldey-Beacom College in Saturday evening's Homecoming Weekend finale. Mere seconds before the clock expired on the 1-1 tie, which helped Post remain unbeaten through 10 matches, graduate forward Tiago Feler nearly had the game-winner, which went off the crossbar with eight seconds remaining.

THE BASICS

RV Post University 1, Goldey-Beacom College 1

RV Post University (4-0-6, 3-0-3 CACC)

Goldey-Beacom College (2-8-3, 1-3-2 CACC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
A first half dominated by Post on the offensive end saw them head into halftime trailing by a goal as a 33rd-minute goal from senior midfielder Brandon Delgado broke the scoring open, giving the Lightning a 1-0 lead. Sophomore midfielder Sam Ball attempted a shot that was blocked by the Post defense, caroming over to senior midfielder Derrick Muhire just outside of the box. Muhire was able to locate the senior to his left with the pass and fire it by the right side of junior goalkeeper Leopold Dufaut for his third goal of the season.

Despite trailing, Post did have their chances, including a free kick by graduate midfielder Sami Charf Amal early on that went wide of senior goalkeeper Jamel Yasin, who had six saves in net for Goldey-Beacom. The Eagles held a decisive 12-3 lead in overall shots as well as a 6-2 edge in shots on goal, and only two corner kicks offensively.

Coming right out of the gate in the second half, Post would have a pair of scoring chances, starting with senior midfielder Lukas Glade's header on a cross pass from senior forward Matheus Milagres would go just to the left of Yasin in net, only two minutes into the session. Moments later, Rodrigues' free kick attempt in the 53rd minute went high and wide of the goal, keeping the score at 1-0.

Continuing to apply the pressure, another cross into the box, this time by Milagres to graduate midfielder Pablo Tenorio, would see Tenorio push the header just over the crossbar and out of play in the 61st minute as the Lightning continued to cling to their one-goal lead. Having another scoring opportunity, Glade came inches away from the equalizer less than two minutes later, rocketing his shot off the far side post before it was cleared away by the Lightning defense out of harm's way.

The hero of the match, Rodrigues, nearly had the game-tying goal in the 70th minute on another free kick against Yasin, but his shot would be punched away by the senior before Post's offense went quiet until the graduate student's goal. Following a foul with 1:58 remaining, Rodrigues unloaded with a free kick from 25 yards out that rainbowed in just under the crossbar and over the outstretched arm of a leaping Yasin.

That would end up being the end of Yasin's night as he received a red card for a swipe that caught graduate forward Tiago Feler on the face, exiting with still 1:53 left after making 10 saves in the tie. Sophomore goalkeeper Pedro Montanes replaced Yasin and nearly gave up the game-winning goal to Feler with time winding down. After being crossed in the box by Milagres, Feler would head the ball past Montanes, but it would hit off the crossbar and ricochet out of play as time expired before Post could set up a corner kick. 

Despite the 1-1 tie, Post dominated in all facets of the match with a 24-8 lead in shots overall and an 11-2 edge in shots on goal. Dufaut needed to make just one save in the net for the Eagles, who also had six corner kicks to only two for the Lightning.

BY THE NUMBERS

• With six ties this season, this is the second time in program history that Post University has had at least five ties in a single season — The Eagles had six ties during the 2023 season
• Post University has now gone unbeaten in seven consecutive matches against Goldey-Beacom College, dating back to the 2019 season, with a 5-0-2 record in that span
• Unbeaten through 10 matches to start the season, this is the best start Post University has had in program history – The previous best for the Eagles was nine matches during the 2011 season, when they were 5-0-4 to start the year before losing 4-0 to Wilmington University
• Post University's unbeaten streak has been extended to 13 consecutive games dating back to the start of the NCAA Tournament last fall

WHO'S NEXT
With five matches remaining in the regular season, Post University travels to the University of Bridgeport for a 3:00 PM matchup on Tuesday against the Purple Knights. The Eagles have not lost to Bridgeport since they joined the CACC back in 2022, going 3-0-1 in that span, including a 3-1 win in the 2023 CACC Championship Match.