Sept. 10, 2011

Box Score

BRONX, N.Y. - Sometimes the ball bounces your way and sometimes it doesn't.

Saturday afternoon on the South Field on the campus of Lehman College, the ball bounced in favor of the home team – literally.

Locked in a taught 1-1 affair with visiting St. Joseph's College, the Lightning emerged victorious seven minutes into the first overtime period when a long throw-in by Thaddeus Ikwuka grazed the head of a Golden Eagle player and bounced into the net untouched by disbelieving St. Joe's keeper Michael Pitts.

Initially the goal was waved off, but upon a referees' conference, the game-winner was allowed to stand, setting off a high-energy celebration by the Lightning.

The own goal by St. Joseph's ended what had become a chippy affair with both teams battling intensely for every loose ball.

After a scoreless opening half that featured several quality chances by the Lightning, the Golden Eagles were the first to break through when Skyline Player of the Week, John Dettori, made a run through the Lightning defense to put the ball past keeper Marcos Coto-Batres for the 1-0 lead in the 71st minute.

Lehman nearly tied the score a minute later when sophomore Assami Valian hit the post from point blank range before the ball was covered by Pitts.

Not willing to be denied, however, the Lightning notched the equalizer in the 73rd minute when Wilfredo Arbieto-Lopez served a perfect ball across the goal box to Guihounou Guede, who knocked in a gorgeous header to tie the score at 1-1. The tally was Guede's third on the young season for the Lightning.

Already off to a good start at 2-1, Lehman faces its first showdown with conference rival Baruch College on Wednesday.

The Lightning has a history with its neighbor to the south as it knocked the Bearcats - at the time the conference's No. 1 seed - out of last season's CUNYAC Championships by winning an overtime thriller on penalty kicks.