SPRINGFIELD, Massachusetts - Down 1-0 and 2-1, the American International College men's soccer team rallied twice for a 2-2 draw against the University of Bridgeport in the season opener for both teams.
AIC is 0-0-1 to start the season.
The Yellow Jackets had multiple changes in the first half, including a chance by Christopher Alberts that hit the post and another bid that just missed the target by
Max-Paul Busnel, but it was Bridgeport that struck on its very first shot of the game as a 50-50 battle won by Pablo Marques from the midfield to just outside the 18-yard box for Kristians Prieditis. He struck the shot into the lower left corner of the net from the right side of the box for a 1-0 edge at 28:57.
AIC leveled the game quickly, earning a corner less than two minutes later.
Marco Cabrera's pass from the left side to the netfront was knocked in by Busnel at 30:41, giving him and AIC each their first goal of the season.
Busnel nearly made it a brace just a minute into the second half, getting free on the right side but pushing the shot just beyond the left post. Two minutes later, Bridgeport hit the target, with Simone Ciancaglini putting home a loose ball on a scramble in the six at 48:04.
Bridgeport pressed to try to extend its lead, taking control for a stretch, but as the half wore on AIC began to take over territorially.
Aaron Bruening had several chances go just off-target, but the Yellow Jackets never relented.Â
That pressure finally paid off with under two minutes to go.
Tomos Shyamapant caught a pass in the middle of the field about 35 yards from the cage, cut to the right, and blasted a low shot just past the goalkeeper for his first in an AIC uniform at 88:02, ending the scoring with the tally at 2-2.
AIC will next take on Felician University on Sunday, August 30.
