Fighting Tigers fall, 2-1 in overtime to Thomas

THOMASVILLE, Ga. -- Andrew College saw its late-season skid continue as Thomas University Reserve squad stole a 2-1 overtime victory from the Fighting Tigers on Friday night. The contest was Andrew's seventh loss of the season and its second coming by a single goal.

The Fighting Tigers controlled the pace of play for most of the match, winning the corner kick count 5-3 and dominating in shots, 12-5 and shots on target 7-4.

"Thomas always has a good side, the difference in the match is always who puts their chances away," said head coach Rudy Roediger. "Tonight we played very well. But you have to score to win matches and we failed to put away the large number we created tonight."

As Andrew controlled the tempo and the number of chances, Thomas took an unexpected lead when an errant Andrew pass was intercepted near the visitor's defensive end. The intercepting TU player sent a looping shot to the back post where it avoided the leap of Josh Kennedy (Placida, Fla.) who collided with the post in the save attempt to give the Night Hawks a 1-0 lead on their first shot of the match after 17 minutes.

Less than 10 minutes later Andrew looked to earn a penalty kick when a Fighting Tiger shot struck the outstretched arm of a TU defender but the referee pulled his whistle back and play continued.

Andrew leveled things up when James Quinn (Slough, England) converted from the spot after Lewis Jones (Liverpool, England) was fouled in the box.

The opening half would end with the match level, 1-1.

As Andrew continued to press for the decisive goal, Lewis Jones slipped Daniel Bile in on goal. The speedy Bile broke clean in on goal only to be brought down from behind. The tackle that looked to stop an obvious goal for the Fighting Tigers saw a TU player cautioned and the ensuing free kick by Jones skipped just wide of the post as the match remained level (1-1) in the 50th minute.

As the match ended regulation level, 1-1 the Andrew entered overtime for the first time all season. After two chances went begging for the Fighting Tigers, Thomas was awarded a corner kick. That would be the last kick of the match as an emphatic header beat the Andrew defense and dropped them 2-1 in overtime.

Andrew returns to action on Sunday, Oct. 18 when it host Oxford-Emory for a 2 p.m., kickoff at Hord Field in what will be the final regular season match. The seven sophomores, George Cunha, Lewis Jones, Marcos Soma, Daniel Bile, Dare Mayomi and Anfernee Jackson will be recognized prior to kickoff.