Bravo Bags Brace As Men's Soccer Battles Sarah Lawrence To A Draw

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — In the midst of a downpour at Aviator Field, rookie Leonel Bravo (Astoria, N.Y./Queens Vocational & Technical) scored a pair of second-half goals as the St. Joseph's College (Brooklyn) men's soccer team (3-6-2, 1-4-2 Skyline) held on to a 2-2 double-overtime draw against Sarah Lawrence College (3-9-1, 1-5-1 Skyline) on Saturday night.

How it Happened

Despite a scoreless first half, both teams found ample goal-scoring opportunities with the Bears outshooting the Gryphons in the period, 9-4. Bravo mustered up three shots in the period – including one within 46 seconds of the opening whistle – while Eric Santiago Torres (Woodside, N.Y./Forest Hills) fired off a pair.

Three minutes into the second stanza, Arturo Franco (Brooklyn, N.Y./Millennium Brooklyn) fired a shot that was saved but Bravo slotted in the rebound for the opening goal and his first collegiate tally. Sarah Lawrence drew level in the 66th, courtesy of Simon Kopecky's strike off a Gryphon throw-in.

Bravo found the back of the net for the second time in the 79th, shooting from inside the box and beating the keeper at the far post. The visitors quickly replied in the 83rd to once again tie the game. The final minute of regular time saw Alejandro Oliveros (Brooklyn, N.Y./Grover Cleveland) save a pair of potential game-winners off the foot of Yusef Maftoon, including a one-on-one breakaway against the Sarah Lawrence midfielder. 

Franco registered the lone shot of the first bonus period. However, each side nearly broke the deadlock in the second overtime; including Alex Helfant's (Quito, Ecuador/Alliance Academy International) rip from 30 yards out which was saved. The match ultimately remained 2-2, resulting in the Bears' second draw of the season.

For the Bears

• Producing 27 shots to the Gryphons' 14, Bravo and Franco were the lead shot-takers with six apiece. The pair, along with Helfant, each had two shots on target.

• Torres and Diego Volpe (Long Branch, N.J./Red Bank Catholic) took a shot on goal each to round out the Bears' eight.

• Facing seven shots on target, Oliveros finished with five saves.

Up Next

The Bears will play SUNY College of Old Westbury in the first of two-midweek road matches on Tuesday evening. Kickoff from the campus of Farmingdale State College is scheduled for 7 p.m. with live stats available on sjcbears.com/live.