Three score effort ends in draw vs. Greater Allegheny

Hazleton, Pa. - The Nittany Lions answered the call all day on Sunday afternoon and after 110 minutes on the field, the Nittany Lions would be forced to settle for a draw with Penn State Greater Allegheny. Hazleton won the war in shots on target in an otherwise statistical stalemate, but failed to convert late opportunities in the overtime period leading to the 3-3 tie. 

Greater Allegheny made Hazleton play catch up for most of the day but on every occasion, the Nittany Lions responded with a game-tying score. Hazleton trailed 1-0 in the first period before sophomore Sam Deptula (Shamokin, Pa.) knotted the game at 1-1 after junior Aaron Wrobleski (Mountain Top, Pa.) lured the Allegheny keeper from the net and found his teammate in the middle of the 18 for the open look. Greater Allegheny would reclaim the lead on direct kick late in the period and carry a 2-1 advantage into halftime. 

Thirteen minutes into the second half, the Hazleton duo would strike again, though this time Deptula would repay the favor to his fellow Nittany Lion. The sophomore forward sprung Wrobleski up the left side of the field leading to a hard shot off the keeper inside the box. With a heads up play, Wrobleski collected the deflection and tucked in the rebound to tie the game at two each. Just two minutes later, Greater Allegheny would snag their third lead of the day, but once more, Hazleton had the answer. The Nittany Lions pressed forward in the 66th minute sending a ball in the opponent's 18. Unable to clear the ball, freshman Kyle Pacheco (Bartonsville, Pa.) made his run into the box, poking the ball passed several defenders to find the back of the net, squaring the game at 3-3.

Although both teams would have their opportunities, the next 25 minutes and the first overtime period would be very much even. Hazleton would take command in the second OT, reeling off five shots on their opponents but failed to convert for what would have been their first and most important lead of the day. 

Next up: With Saturday's contests washed out, the Nittany Lions will face Penn State Beaver on Monday, October 1 at 4:00 p.m. on the Hazleton campus.