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Princeton University Athletics
Princeton University
St. John's
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Players Mentioned
Men's Soccer Stunned by St. John's in Final Seconds of Second OT
September 29, 2011 | Men's Soccer
PRINCETON, N.J. (9/28/11) - Pablo Battuto Punyed spoiled a 2-2 tie when he scored for No. 15 St. John's with 4.2 seconds left in the second overtime for a 3-2 win over Princeton in men's soccer on Wednesday, Sept. 28 on Myslik Field at Roberts Stadium.
Adrian L'Esperance played the ball from the near corner into the box where Battuto Punyed blasted a shot past a screened Max Gallin for the golden goal.
The Tigers had a two-goal deficit erased by a pair of goals from freshman Cameron Porter in the second half. Senior Antoine Hoppenot would set up both goals.
The first opportunity for Princeton came just four minutes in on an Joe Saitta corner kick. Saitta got the ball into the box where it was headed in on goal by junior captain Mark Linnville. St. John's keeper Rafael Diaz had to tip the ball over the cross bar to keep the clean slate.
Saitta proved to be dangerous on offense again four minutes later when he took a free kick from about 22 yards out. His shot was a low rolling ball that had to be saved by a diving Diaz at the near post.
St. John's would get on the scoreboard in the 15th minute on a misplayed goal kick. Gallin tried to recover the ball but Jamie Thomas hadn't moved up the field yet and ran back to the ball. Thomas poked it free and shot it into the lower left corner as two Princeton defenders were on the line, knowing Gallin was in trouble, but neither could get to it in time.
Four minutes later Walter Hines had a breakaway on a keyed balled in the midfield. He won a footrace with junior David Dubow, but Gallin was in perfect position to come out and make the save.
Dubow made up for the lost footrace with a huge team save in the 22nd minute on a shot by Hines. A long ball was threaded to Hines on the right flank and Gallin slipped leaving Hines free to goal. Dubow raced ahead and kicked the ball out at the near post.
All three of Princeton's first-half shots came in the first nine minutes of the game. St. John's would then have the game's next five shots.
Five minutes into the second half, Gallin would be tested again. Jimmy Mulligan took a free kick from the center of the field about 20 yards out that went over the wall and right into Gallin.
Princeton's best chance since the opening minutes of the game came in the 56th minute. A Linnville throw in from the 18-yard line extended was redirected by junior Matt Sanner and sophomore Patrick O'Neil had a great header go just high of the cross bar.
St. John's would take the 2-0 lead in the 62nd minute, L'Esperance's first of the night. He scored less than a minute after checking into the game, when he got a feed on the right flank and shot past two defenders and into the net.
Princeton answered in the 64th minute when Porter redirected a shot by freshman Myles McGinley inside the box. McGinley was given the ball by Hoppenot who played it off the touchline.
A short corner by Jack Bennett led to Daniel Herrara blasting a shot from 17 yards out that had to be stopped by a flying Gallin in the 69th minute, arguably his best save of the night.
Porter would score his second goal in the 76th minute when Hoppenot played a perfect ball inside the box as Porter evened the game at 2-2.
Sophomore defender Chris Benedict nearly gave Princeton the lead in the 85th minute when he struck the ball from 20 yards out after St. John's tried to play the ball up the field. His shot, however, was squashed by Diaz.
With three minutes remaining in regulation Gallin made a punch save on a Mulligan shot as the Red Storm had the numbers, to force the overtime.
Princeton would have the first offensive chance in overtime just 1:30 in. Linnville used a long throw to get the ball into the box. It bounced around in front of the goal and sophomore Dylan Bowman nearly skimmed the post with a shot that went just wide.
St. John's had a slim 16-13 edge in shots with Princeton leading 3-2 in overtime. The Johnnies won the corner kick battle 11-6.
Gallin would finish the night with four stops as Princeton drops to 1-5-1 on the season. Diaz made three saves as St. John's improves to 6-2-1.
This is the third straight game in the series that has gone into overtime. The last two games in 2007 and 2009 ended in 1-1 ties.
Princeton looks to defend its Ivy League title when it begins league play on Saturday. The Tigers travel to Dartmouth for a 3:30 p.m., game on Saturday, Oct. 1.