PHILADELPHIA - The Saint Joseph's men's soccer team scored the opening two goals, but VMI scored two goals late in the second half to share the spoils in a 2-2 draw inside Sweeney Field on Saturday evening.

HOW IT HAPPENED

• After a positive start to the game, the Hawks capitalized on their second shot attempt. Sebastian Perez-Gasiba picked up the ball on the right side of the goal and curled a strike from outside the box into the far upper corner, giving the hosts the lead inside eight minutes.
• Tommaso Rossetto tested the VMI goalkeeper minutes later, firing a low shot that was safely handled by the visiting shot stopper.
• The Hawks continued to grow into the game and won a corner kick in the 39th minute. Sean Boyle acrobatically connected with the delivery, sending the ball on target before a VMI defender was called for a handball in the box, awarding St. Joe's a penalty.
• Matteo Mazzotta converted from the spot, blasting his attempt into the lower-left corner to extend the Hawks' lead to 2-0.
• A rare attacking chance saw VMI win a set piece in the attacking half. Goalkeeper Zack Murphy came forward to launch a ball into the box, which deflected through to Yeirin Mejia. The midfielder rifled a shot off the underside of the crossbar and in, cutting the deficit to 2-1 in the 66th minute.
• St. Joe's nearly restored its two-goal cushion when Boyle flicked on a header from a corner to find Glen Lala unmarked at the back post. Lala volleyed his effort on frame, but a VMI defender cleared the shot off the goal line to keep the visitors within reach.
• Another set piece gave the Keydets their equalizer. The ball spilled out to Timofey Dovgalyuk at the top of the box, and he drove a shot into the lower-left corner to level the match at 2-2 in the 74th minute.
• The Hawks almost found a winner three minutes later when Aidan Donnelly rose above his marker to meet a cross, only for his header to rattle the crossbar before VMI cleared the rebound.
• Neither team managed a late breakthrough as the match ended in a 2-2 draw

 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• Perez-Gasiba scored his second collegiate goal, earning his first tally for the Crimson and Gray in his home debut.
• Mazzotta scored his first goal of the season, third of his career with his goal from the penalty spot.
• Rossetto and Oskar Steinicke each nabbed their first assist of the season in the draw.
• The Hawks outshot the Keydets by a 13-5 margin, now outshooting teams 24-10 over the first two games.
• The Hawks remain unbeaten under first year head coach Tim Mulqueen, opening with a 1-0-1 record after two games in three days.

 
UP NEXT

• The Hawks return to the pitch on Monday, September 1 to visit City 6 rival Villanova. Kickoff is slated for 12 p.m.