Box Score

The UW-Parkside men's soccer team got a first half goal from Spencer Bursten but was unable to hold the lead and had to settle for a 1-1 tie at Missouri S&T on Sunday. The Rangers had their second consecutive impressive showing on the road against a top four team but the tie ended their hopes of reaching the conference tournament. They are now 7-7-2 overall and 5-7-2 in GLVC play.

"It was a great weekend," said head coach Jason Zitzke. "I'm sure a lot of people on the outside looked in and thought the ship was sinking but the guys really responded. It just shows that we're right there. Unfortunately this league is very unforgiving. We're definitely disappointed we're not going to be in the tournament."

The Miners had a big statistical advantage getting 32 shots on the day to the Rangers 14. That advantage was somewhat negated with just a three shot difference in balls on goal (ten-to-seven).

"They're a very good team, very well-coached," said Zitzke. "I'm proud of how we played coming into a tough road match."

Parkside had momentum early and got four shots in the first 12 minutes, including three on goal, to establish their attack.

They would strike for the lead just a few minutes later when Bursten buried one from nearly 30 yards out for his fourth goal of the season. Tim Thao was credited for the assist in the 26th minute in helping the Rangers to a 1-0 lead.

The half ended with the score still tied although the Miners began to shift momentum. They outshot Parkside 7-2 for the remainder of the half and carried that energy into the second half.

Missouri S&T got nine shots and six corner kicks in the first 25 minutes of the half. The Ranger defense came up big ten minutes in to make a team save on a ball that was destined for the net and preserve the lead.

Unfortunately the Miners were able to get back to even in the 70th minute when Trent Doerner scored from the top of the 18-yard box on a touch from J.J. Bilyeu. Doerner's second goal of the season turned made it 1-1 with just under 20 minutes left in regulations.

"They were definitely the aggressor in the second half," said Zitzke. "We weren't able to clear a couple of the flurries they got and one led to the goal."

The Rangers nearly scored the game-winner late in the second half. Jon Gourlay fired a rocket from about 30 yards away that began to dip towards the net but Pat McNamee lept to finger save it off the crossbar with just 18 seconds remaining.

Things were quiet in the overtime periods until the final minutes when each team had a chance to win the game.

The Miners actually got a ball into the net and thought they had won the game in the 102nd minute. Zitzke came out to contend the ball had been touched for an offsides. The referee agreed and disallowed the goal and the match continued.

Parkside's chance came in the final minute when Jon Gourlay emerged from a scrum with a shot in less than 20 seconds left. The ball was actually blocked by a Ranger defender and the game ended in a tie.

"It was a wild and crazy finish," said Zitzke.

Nick Huftalin was asked to make a pair of saves in the second overtime, the only shots on goal for either team in the extra stanzas. The redshirt freshman keeper finished with seven saves in moving to 4-4-1 on the season.

Parkside will wrap up the 2011 campaign on Wednesday night with a GLVC tilt at Lewis University. Game time is set for 7:30 in Romeoville, Ill.