Box Score PURCHASE, N.Y. – The Manhattanville men's soccer team drew with No. 14/18 Rutgers-Camden Scarlet Raptors on Wednesday evening by the score of 1-1. With the tie the team's home unbeaten streak is extended to six for the 2012 season and 11 dating back to the 2011 season.
 
Having never played one-another in the history of both schools, the Valiants and Scarlet Raptors played tentatively in the first half trying to find a weakness in their opponents' defense. Manhattanville picked up the first shot on goal as senior Eros Olazabal (Milton, Ontario/Bishop Reding) picked up his first of what turned out to be five shots on the evening.
 
Over the final 32 minutes of the first half Manhattanville and Rutgers-Camden battled to a scoreless draw as the Scarlet Raptors outshot their hosts by a 9-4 margin, but were outshot on shots on goal by a 2-0 differential. Corner kicks at the break were 3-2 in favor of the Scarlet Raptors.
 
Both teams picked up one shot apiece through the first 10:33 of the second half, with senior Sebastian Siring (Gothenburg, Sweden/Katrinelundsgymnasiet) having his shot stopped by Rutgers-Camden goalkeeper Mike Randall, and the Scarlet Raptors shot being blocked before reaching the goal.
 
The scoreless drought was broken less than four minutes later when senior Marco Blasetti (Yonkers, N.Y./Rye Country Day) picked up his third goal of the season after picking up a pass from classmate Erick Olazabal (Milton, Ontario/Bishop Reding) to put Manhattanville up 1-0. With his third goal of the season, Blasetti sets a new career-high after scoring two in each of his previous three seasons with the team.
 
After Rutgers-Camden changed four of their 10 field players following the goal, their offense picked up a pair of shots in less than a four minute span. Junior Kyle Cassidy (Carmel, N.Y./Carmel) and [Erick] Olazabal picked up two shots each of their own during the next offensive series for the Valiants with no success on the scoreboard.
 
As time ticked below 10 minutes remaining in regulation, the offensive attack continued to grow for Rutgers-Camden as they chased the ball deep into the offensive zone. A right-footed cross from Mike Ryan was sent towards the box and sent into the goal for Mitch Grotti to even up the game with 6:56 to go.
 
During the first 10-minute overtime period, Rutgers-Camden outshot Manhattanville by a 4-1 margin with freshman goalkeeper Steve Singson (Deer Park, N.Y./St. Anthony's) forced to make one save. In the second overtime the Scarlet Raptors picked up two shots in the first 2:02 of the period before Manhattanville took back control of the ball. Their best scoring chance in the extra session came as [Erick] Olazabal sent one towards the crossbar that was sinking towards the goal fast but was pushed over by Randall to save the game for Rutgers-Camden.
 
The final horn sounded and Manhattanville had their third tie of the season, a 1-1 draw with Rutgers-Camden, an elite-eight team from a season ago.
 
“Tonight was a full-blooded battle, and I'm very proud of the massive effort that our team put into the entire game,” said head coach Gregg Miller after the contest. “We played a very good team tonight and in reality, we probably should have won the game, it was just a little naivety on our part to perhaps cost us the victory. Having said that…a couple of weeks ago, that same team would have probably turned us over.”
 
Final shots were in favor of the Scarlet Raptors at a 24-16 differential, with shots on goal in favor of Manhattanville at a 9-5 clip. Corner kicks were also in favor of Rutgers-Camden at a differential of 8-5.
 
Manhattanville (4-4-3, 1-0-0 Freedom) will return to Freedom Conference play this Saturday at 3:00 p.m. when it travels to St. Davids, Pa. to take on the Eastern Eagles. Rutgers-Camden (9-2-1, 3-2-0 NJAC) will return home to take on William Paterson in New Jersey Athletic Conference action at 2:30 p.m. this Saturday.