Box Score NORTH MANCHESTER, IND. – Goals from the team-leading scoring tandem of junior forward Ola Ladapo (London, England) and sophomore defender/midfielder/forward Tod Oram (Crown Point, Ind.) highlighted a home Heartland Collegiate Athletic Conference clash Tuesday, Oct. 13.
The two offensive strikes neutralized a similar total for visiting Bluffton University of Ohio, as the two league foes played to a two-overtime, 110-minute draw at Spartan Soccer Field. BU (0-11-1 overall, 0-3-1 HCAC) didn't waste time getting their hosts attention, posting a goal 40 seconds in, but the Spartans (4-6-3 overall, 1-2-1 HCAC) appeared on the verge of their fifth overall and second league win, answering for a tie in the fifth minute and then taking the lead with a score in the 61st minute.
However, the Beavers, placing a corner kick into the box in front of MU's goal, sent home the equalizer late in the second stanza. Each side had opportunities in the final eight-plus minutes of regulation and both 10-minute extra sessions, but neither could break up the deadlock on the scoreboard. The two teams combined for 49 shot attempts with MU holding a slim 26-23 edge due to eight attempts off the foot of Ladapo.
On the defensive side, Spartans' sophomore goalkeeper Brady Forman (Hastings, Mich.) turned in six saves in the face of eight visiting shot on goal tries. On the other end of SSF, Matt Hardman-Zimmerman collected nine saves versus 11 Black and Gold shots on frame.
The Spartans return to action Saturday, Oct. 17, traveling to Rose-Hulman for a 3:30 p.m. kickoff.
NOTES: Even with Tuesday's tie, MU remains a part of the league's postseason tournament picture. They're just a half-match behind and tied points-wise with Anderson University in the six-seven chase, while Earlham and Franklin, tied for fourth, are just a match and two points in front of them … Oram's goal and assist on Ladapo's tally moved him to the top of the league's points' chart (15), while Ladapo is tied for third (13). The duo is also part of a three-way tie for third in goals scored, while Ladapo's 40 total shots are third-most … The program's third tie was the most in a season since 2004.
