SARASOTA, Fla. - New College of Florida Men's Soccer earned another major result Wednesday, battling No. 10 St. Thomas to a 1-1 draw at NCF Bayfront Field.
Cuba Soerensen delivered a highlight-reel equalizer in the 68th minute, scoring directly from a corner kick to pull the Mighty Banyans level. Henrique Furlan preserved the result with a game-saving stop in the final minute as part of a six-save performance.
NCF (3-3-6, 1-0-4 SUN) remained unbeaten through five Sun Conference matches and earned its second result against a nationally ranked opponent this season. The Mighty Banyans previously played then-No. 11 Keiser to a 3-3 draw on Sept. 30.
HOW IT HAPPENED
St. Thomas applied pressure early and nearly opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Thiago Patto struck the post.
Furlan made his first save less than three minutes later, denying another attempt from Patto. He added a second stop in the 32nd minute to keep the match scoreless.
NCF created opportunities of its own during the opening half. Cameron Johnson sent an attempt wide in the seventh minute before Ducamel Jeannestin forced a save from St. Thomas goalkeeper Matias Fuentes in the 34th.
The Bobcats continued to test NCF following halftime, but Furlan made consecutive saves during the opening five minutes of the second half.
St. Thomas finally broke through at the 59:01 mark when Angelo Bernardes scored off an assist from Patto.
The Mighty Banyans responded less than nine minutes later. Soerensen stepped to the corner flag and curled the ball directly into the net at the 67:24 mark, producing a highlight-reel goal that tied the match at 1-1.
NCF continued to pressure the Bobcats following the equalizer, earning five additional corner kicks during the second half.
St. Thomas created one final dangerous opportunity in the closing minute. Manuel Dominguez placed a header on goal at the 89:24 mark, but Furlan made the game-saving stop to secure the draw.
THE TURNING POINT
Trailing the No. 10 team in the country, NCF needed something special to pull even.
Soerensen provided it in the 68th minute, bending a corner kick directly into the net for the equalizer.
Furlan then completed the result with his biggest save of the afternoon, stopping Dominguez's header with 36 seconds remaining to keep the Mighty Banyans unbeaten in conference play.
BY THE NUMBERS
0
Conference losses for NCF through its opening five SUN matches.
2
Results earned by the Mighty Banyans against nationally ranked opponents this season.
6
Saves recorded by Furlan, along with six second-half corner kicks earned by NCF.
22
Shots taken by St. Thomas, with the NCF defense allowing only one goal.
89:24
Time of Furlan's game-saving stop in the final minute.
STAT LEADERS
Goals: Cuba Soerensen - 1
Shots: Cameron Johnson - 2; Ducamel Jeannestin - 2; Jaden Williams - 1; Micah Nelson - 1; Cuba Soerensen - 1; Juan Gomez-Cuetara - 1
Shots on Goal: Jaden Williams - 1; Ducamel Jeannestin - 1; Cuba Soerensen - 1
Goalkeeper: Henrique Furlan - 90 minutes, 1 goal allowed, 6 saves
UP NEXT: NCF will continue Sun Conference play Saturday with an 11 a.m. road match at Southeastern.
