KINGS POINT, N.Y. (Sept. 27, 2022) – The U.S. Merchant Marine Academy men's soccer team played their most intense game of the season at Bartoszek Field on Tuesday night. USMMA took on the defending Skyline Champions Mount Saint Vincent in a game so electrifying no winner was declared. The Mariners and Dolphins played to a 2-2 tie, USMMA's fourth draw in four conference matches. With the tie, Mount Saint Vincent's record moved to 3-3-2 overall (1-1-2 Skyline). Merchant Marine left the pitch with a 3-2-5 overall record (0-0-4 Skyline).
 
Game Links

• Box Score
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Ashton Carey
• WATCH: Postgame Interview With Jason Healey 

Going into the match, Head Coach Drew McCarthy stressed the importance of generating more offense and the Mariners did just that. Although USMMA did not find the twine in the opening 45 minutes, the Mariners ripped off seven shots in the first half. Four found their way on goal, but Merchant Marine could not crack through.
 
Mount Saint Vincent answered the Mariners' aggressive offensive with up-tempo soccer of their own. A goal from junior Ian Lamas at the 16:41 mark of the opening half gave the Dolphins a 1-0 advantage. Despite the goal, Lamas' tally was Mount Saint Vincent's only shot on net in the first half.
 
The final 45 minutes were a track meet. Both teams created high-quality chances and the intensity rose through the roofless Bartoszek Field. The Mariners, who had not scored since an own goal vs. Baruch, seized the momentum when sophomore Jason Healey (King George, Va.) sent a harmless cross towards the front of the Dolphins' net. Mount Saint Vincent goalkeeper Joel Luna had the ball bounce off his right knee into the goal to tie the score 1-1 at the 53:28 mark.
 
USMMA's momentum was short-lived as Dolphins' leading scorer freshman Augustus McGiff converted a penalty kick tally just over three minutes after Healey's goal to put Mount Saint Vincent back in front 2-1.
 
Down but not out, the Mariners kept throwing everything at Luna in an effort to tie the game. Merchant Marine's aggressiveness created a penalty kick of their own and the hot-footed Healey was called on to take it with 19:43 on the clock. Healey went down low on Luna to tie the game for the second time in the half at 2-2. The two-goal game for Healey accounted for his first two tallies of the season and was the second two-goal match of his career.
 
Unsatisfied with the thoughts of a tie, both squads went all in for the win. As the clock ticked under five minutes remaining, senior goalkeeper Chase Miller (Boise, Idaho) was called for a red card after a scrum at the top of the box after the Dolphins had already been awarded yet another PK after a pull down from behind in the box.
 
Miller's exit from the match meant the season's biggest play was on the shoulders of junior goalkeeper Ashton Carey (Pasadena, Md.) with just 4:54 remaining. Romero's shot appeared to be destined for the twine, but Carey read Romero's rocket perfectly. A full extension dive to his left from Carey robbed Romero and kept the game tied to stay. A truly magnificent game by both teams, one that was a thriller from the first minute to the last.
 
Miller ended the night with one save, while Carey made three in just under five minutes of action. For the Dolphins, junior Joel Luna had an impressive 10 stops on the evening.
 
USMMA will look to secure their first conference win on Saturday night when they head to take on the Bears of St. Joseph's-Brooklyn. Match time is set for 7:30 p.m. at Aviator Field in Brooklyn, N.Y. Live stats and a live video feed of the contest will be available with links on the USMMA Men's Soccer Schedule Page.
 
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