Zandonella nets equalizer for Skyhawks in 86^th minute

Sophomore back Ben Zandonella tied up the game for the Skyhawks in the 86th minute.

EASTON, Mass. (August 30, 2012) – The Stonehill College men's soccer team and Saint Thomas Aquinas College, ranked no. 21 in the National Soccer Coaches Association of America/Continental Tire NCAA Division II preseason poll, played to a 1-1 double overtime draw in non-conference action on Thursday evening at Skyhawk Field.

The Spartans got on the scoreboard first in the 29^th minute when senior midfielder Sean Reily's (Monroe, N.Y./Bryant University) chip from just outside the right corner of the box deflected off of a Skyhawks defender into the net for a 1-0 advantage.

Sophomore back Ben Zandonella (South Windsor, Conn./South Windsor) countered for Stonehill in the 86^th minute with his first career collegiate goal to eventually force overtime and the 1-1 draw.

Senior back Kevin Wendth (Slingerlands, N.Y./Bethlehem) initiated Zandonella's marker by electing to play a quick pass to sophomore Tyler Brondyk (Mansifeld, Mass./Mansfield) after being awarded a corner kick. Brondyk one-touched the ball forward to the right corner of the box and then served a beautiful cross near the left post to Zandonella who headed it home for the equalizer past Spartans goalkeeper Andrew Tartara (Bardonia, N.Y./Albertus Magnus).

Tartara finished the contest with three saves including two in the first overtime session. Adam Colella (Wilmington, Mass./Saint John's Prep.) turned away five shots with a pair of saves coming in the second overtime session.

Saint Thomas Aquinas won the corners matchup, 7-4, over Stonehill and outshot the Skyhawks, 16-11 in the contest.

Stonehill (0-0-1, 0-0-0 NE-10) returns to action on Saturday, September 1 in a non-conference tilt versus Concordia (N.Y.) at 11 a.m. at Skyhawk Field. Saint Thomas Aquinas (0-0-1, 0-0-0 ECC) travels to Saint Anselm on Saturday at 7 p.m.