Cleveland, Ohio – The Oberlin College men's soccer team held a 2-0 lead with 23 minutes left to play in regulation, but the Case Western Reserve Spartans rallied for a pair of goals and fended off a plethora Yeomen responses to preserve a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night.
 
The Yeomen were desperately trying to return to the win column for the first time since September 20 and it appeared they would do so, but the late charge from the Spartans soured that idea. Nonetheless, the Yeomen did snap a three-match losing skid as both they and the Spartans are now 4-5-2 on the season.
 
Oberlin triggered seven shots in the two overtime periods as they had multiple chances to go home as winners, but their hard-luck continued on this night.  In the second overtime, first-year Michael Candelori had a low left-footed strike sail just wide of the right post and moments later Timothy Williams saw his attempt end in the same spot.
 
With the final seconds ticking away, Williams sent a slow cross through the penalty area to a charging Trenton Bulucea, but he was unable to get a touch on the ball as some contact by the Spartans' backline got him off his spot.
 
In the first overtime, Williams and Jesse Lauritsen saw shots sail high of the cage. However, senior Matthew Bach-Lombardo nearly caught Case goalkeeper Calvin Boyle off his line as the Yeomen captain's shot from 30 yards out caught Boyle off-guard before he could get just enough of it to keep the game going.
 
On the final shot of regulation, the Spartans nearly did the same to Connor English as Michael Balog's attempt with two seconds left deflected off the hands of English, but thankfully stayed in front of the endline.
 
The Yeomen netted the game's first goal in the 21^st minute as Williams and Jack McMillin were left in a two-on-one breakaway against Boyle with Williams setting up McMillin for his sixth score of the year.
 
It remained a 1-0 Yeomen lead until the 67^th as a long pass from Brian James pitted Williams up against Boyle in a one-on-one situation. With Williams running at him, Boyle was indecisive at first, but elected to charge at him, which proved to be the wrong decision as a quick flip by the Yeomen senior left him staring at an empty net for his 10^th goal of the season and an all-important insurance marker.
 
The Spartans wouldn't go away quietly as Christian Lytle finished off a shot by Alex Besi that was initially turned away by English in the 73^rd minute. Nearly seven minutes later, Besi would head home the equalizer as he streaked through the box unmarked to finish off Balog's service from the far-left side.
 
After the game was tied, Williams had a promising chance to win it in regulation with a low diagonal shot across the box that forced Boyle to dive to his right to corral.
 
The Spartans were credited with 27 shots compared to Oberlin's 18 and had an 11-5 edge in shots on goal. However, corner kicks were even at five each.
 
English went all 110 minutes in goal and made a career-high nine saves.
 
Oberlin is back in action on Saturday evening as it plays host to Hiram College. The first touch is set for 7 p.m.