ANDERSON, S.C. - Anderson and rival Erskine battled to a 1-1 tie in nonconference men's soccer action Tuesday afternoon at a hot, muggy Trojan Stadium.
Anderson (0-1-1) entered the contest looking to avenge last season's setback at Erskine, while the Flying Fleet (2-0-1) had its season-opening two-match win streak halted in its first road contest of the season. The two rivals also battled to a 2-2 stalemate in 2009 at Erskine and split the 2010 and 2011 matchups, with each team claiming wins on their home pitches.
With the draw, the teams split the first point in the 2012 Beville Cup standings, with the next Anderson/Erskine matchup coming on Saturday in women's soccer.
The Flying Fleet pushed the early tempo, creating chances off four corner kicks inside the first 15 minutes of action, but the Trojan defense rose to the occasion each time, with a pair of Fleet attempts sailing high of the crossbar.
Anderson sophomore Mattias Schyberg notched the game's first shot on goal at the 15:51 mark, forcing Erskine keeper Roberto De La Vina to make the first of 11 saves on the afternoon.
The Flying Fleet garnered the first score of the contest in the 23rd minute, as sophomore forward Andrew Settlemire took a feed from Trevor Moreland and arched the ball high into the upper right corner of the net from the top of the box, giving Erskine the 1-0 lead.
AU pushed the pace in the second frame and the attack paid dividends, as senior Ben Jones notched the equalizer at the 69:39 mark with a shot from the left corner of the box that found its way past De La Vina.
Each team recorded three shots during the remainder of regulation, with neither squad recording an attempt in the first overtime period. The Trojans' Tapiwa Munetsi and Ludwig Nordin each fired off a shot in the first 90 seconds of the second overtime, but were unable to find the back of the net.
The Trojans posted a 15-9 advantage in shots, including a 12-3 edge on shots on goal, while also recording nine corner kicks to EC's seven.
Anderson standout senior keeper Lukas Hesse went the distance in the net for the Trojans, recording two saves on the afternoon, as several Fleet attempts were off target. De La Vina garnered 11 saves, including two in the second overtime.
Anderson will be looking to record its first win of the young season when the Trojans hit the road for a two-game road swing this weekend at the Wyndham Boca Raton Soccer Classic. AU will face Palm Beach Atlantic at 1 p.m. on Friday and Lynn at 3:30 p.m. Saturday.
