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Chance Pope
2
Siena SIE (0-0-1)
2
HBU HBU (0-0-1)
Siena SIE
(0-0-1)
2
Final
2
HBU HBU
(0-0-1)
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 OT-2 OT 1 F
Siena SIE 2 0 0 0 2
HBU HBU 1 1 0 0 2

Game Recap: Men's Soccer |

MSOC: HBU Draws With Siena in Season-Opener

Gianluca Natera scores a brace for the Huskies

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HOUSTON – Sophomore Gianluca Natera matched his goal total from his freshman campaign in the season-opening match of the 2018 season for the HBU men's soccer team as he scored both goals for the Huskies in a 2-2 tie with visiting Siena on Friday night at Sorrels Field as part of the HBU Invitational.

HBU (0-0-1) got an early shot on goal from Natera in the eighth minute but it was less than four minutes until he found the net when a pass from Thomas Menke set him free to the left of the goal, beating the keeper at the 10:39 mark. In the 19th minute, an errant HBU pass was controlled by Siena's (0-0-1) Aaron Martin who lifted a shot up and over HBU keeper Chance Pope to tie the game at 1-1. In the 38th minute, a Husky foul set the Saints up with a free kick from the left of the 18-yard box leading to a header goal and a 2-1 Siena lead at the half.

Less than five minutes into the second period, Menke put a header on goal but a Siena defender was there to head the ball clear and keep Siena in the lead. With time winding down, junior Malik Key worked down the left side and found Natera inside the 18-yard box to one-time a howler past Siena Keeper Greg Monroe and even the score with less than seven minutes remaining. Jordi Cobo and Dequan Thomas both put shots on goal in the final three minutes but couldn't find the net, leading to overtime. Over the two 10-minute overtime periods, The Huskies totaled four shots to Siena's one with none of them on the mark.

The Huskies had 10 different players take shots in the game with Natera putting three attempts on goal as he scored twice. In goal, Pope finished with one save. The Huskies attempted 25 shots with six on goal while Siena put three of six shots on target.

"While we were not our best, still recovering from Friday's double-overtime game, we found a way to keep ourselves in it and grind out a result," said head coach Ryan Pratt. "The second game on the weekend in college soccer is always a battle. Saint Francis is a good team. They're going to win a lot of games this year. They're tough to play against and I'm really proud of how our guys dug their heals in, never gave up and never quit."

HBU will close out the HBU Invitational on Sunday, Aug. 26, evening when the Huskies host Saint Francis at 7:00 p.m.
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