TRENTON, N.J., September 21, 2017 – After a hard-fought battle on the road, the No. 1 Monroe College men's soccer team finished a game without a win for the first time this season, playing to a 2-2 draw at No. 13 Mercer County Community College Wednesday evening. The Mustangs remain undefeated and move to 7-0-1 on the year, while the Vikings go to 7-1-1 overall.
 
Mercer took the first lead of the game when Eiichi Yamaguchi scored in the 33rd minute of the game. 10 minute later, the Mustangs knotted things up at one on Javier Rodriguez's score off an assist from Jorge Figueroa, sending the game to the half with a 1-1 stalemate.
 
Carlos Rodriguez got on the board in the 49th minute, giving the Mustangs a 2-1 lead off a feed from Gabriel Machado. In the 77th minute, the Vikings managed to tie the game on Emiliano Fama's goal, eventually forcing overtime.
 
Mercer nearly won the game at the buzzer in the first extra period, but a header by Yamaguchi hit the post, allowing the game to go to a second overtime. Early in the next period, the Vikings had a couple chances, but were unable to put a pair of shots on net. The Mustangs turned up the heat for the rest of the period, getting a number of chances to win the game. Carlos Rodriguez fired a shot from the top of the box in the 106th minute, but his attempt was stopped by the keeper. Monroe had another pair of chances go wide, and neither team managed to get one in the net, resulting in the 2-2 draw.
 
Goalkeeper David de la Hera made five saves and allowed two goals in 110 minutes to move to 2-0-1 on the year. Mercer netminder Francesco Zanin also allowed two goals and leaves the game 7-1-1.
 
Javier and Carlos Rodriguez accounted for the two Mustang goals in Wednesday's contest. Machado added an assist and a team-high three shots on goal.
 
The Mustangs will look to start a new winning streak on Tuesday, Sept. 26, when they visit Bunker Hill Community College in Boston, Mass. Game time is set for 4 p.m.
 
ABOUT THE ATHLETIC PROGRAM AT MONROE COLLEGE
The athletic program at Monroe College encompasses a total of 26 teams competing across nine sports. There are 18 varsity and junior varsity programs, as well as club men's rugby, and the newly added club women's rugby team, competing on the New Rochelle campus as the Monroe Mustangs (NJCAA Division I). The Monroe Express, based out of the Bronx campus, will have six teams competing at the NJCAA Division III level beginning in the fall of 2017.
 
For more information about the Monroe Mustangs, please visit us at www.MonroeCollegeMustangs.com or follow us on social media: Facebook (Monroe College Athletics), Twitter (@Monroe_Mustangs) and Instagram (@monroemustangs).