Newark, Del. – The Le Moyne College men's soccer team scored an equalizing goal in the second half of their non-conference matchup at the University of Delaware on Tuesday evening to record a 2-2 draw against the Blue Hens.

The 'Phins scored the first goal of the game in the third minute when sophomore winger Cameron Stuart (Fulton, N.Y./G. Ray Bodley) sent a pass from the left side of the UD penalty area across the box for graduate midfielder Luca Nicastro (Ottawa, Ontario/Nepean/St. Bonaventure), who drove a right-footed shot into the upper right corner of the goal with his first touch to record his second goal of the campaign and give the Dolphins an early 1-0 lead.

"It was a great start from us in the match and I am delighted we started on the front foot," said Le Moyne head coach Callum Donnelly '17, M '21. "I thought we showed the urgency to get that first goal, and I am happy we did. I am disappointed to lose a goal fairly soon after, but we fought hard today and ultimately, I am happy with the result against a great team."

The home team tied the game at 1-1 in the 13^th minute on a goal from senior forward Sam Donnellan, then Donnellan found the back of the net again in the 35^th minute, and the Blue Hens carried a 2-1 lead into the halftime break.

The Dolphins tied the game at 2-2 when freshman forward Felix Ludemann (Wrestedt, Germany/Herzog-Ernst-Gymnasium Uelzen) drew a foul in the UD penalty area, and redshirt-junior defender Jack Goodrich (Kelsall, England/King's School Chester) converted the kick from the spot.

Tuesday's match was the second consecutive game during which Ludemann drew a penalty kick for the 'Phins in the second half, and once again it was Goodrich who subsequently converted the chance for the Dolphins. With a penalty kick against Lindenwood on Sunday, and one against Delaware on Tuesday, Goodrich now has two goals on the year.

The Dolphins battled to keep the score level in the final 31:21, and they nearly found the go-ahead goal with just under six minutes remaining when Stuart intercepted an errant pass in UD's defensive third and sent the ball out wide for Ludemann, who dribbled into the right side of the Delaware penalty area and drove a right-footed shot that curled away from the diving goalkeeper and struck the left post.

"It was probably a great game to watch for the neutral," said Donnelly. "I thought there were moments in the match in which we looked dangerous. We had to manage some tricky moments in the game late on but hitting the post (in the 85th minute) at 2-2 showed we maybe could have nicked it."

Le Moyne freshman goalkeeper Wyatt Dupell (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse), who made his second career start during the match, finished the contest with nine saves, including six saves in the final 30 minutes when the Blue Hens were pressing for the match winner.

"We had to defend deep later in the game and our back 5 had to make some big blocks," added Donnelly. "The whole team worked so hard to get something out of the game. I am disappointed with the two goals we conceded, but Delaware had some top players who punished us in certain moments."

Le Moyne's backline of Dupell, outside backs Goodrich and Brett Stern (Lockport, N.Y./Newfane/Duquesne), and center backs Maximilian Huss (Karben, Germany/Elly-Heuss-Schule) and Ben Quigley (Perth, Scotland/Community School of Auchterarder/University of Stirling) each played the full 90 minutes.

The 'Phins were efficient in the final third, putting eight of their 11 total shots on target.

Le Moyne's eight shots on goal against the Blue Hens marks a season-high for the squad.

"We knew it was going to be difficult tonight against a team that has started so well, along with the fact that we had such a short turnaround from Sunday," said Donnelly after the match. "We've had so many tough moments so far this season, so it's great to see the boys are together and fighting. All we can ask as a staff is for our players to give everything they've got. We are excited for conference play and look forward to hosting a strong Stonehill team [on Sunday]," Le Moyne's leader concluded.

Nicastro took a season-high three shots during the match, with two on target, while Ludemann registered a season-high four shots and also put two of his attempts on goal.

Stuart, who tallied six goals and four assists during his rookie campaign in 2022, recorded his first point of the 2023 season with an assist on the team's first goal of the match.

Following the game, the Blue Hens' record moved to 5-1-2, and they will return to CAA play on Saturday against Monmouth.

The Dolphins (0-4-2) will make their Northeast Conference debut on Sunday at home against the Stonehill Skyhawks (1-3-2), with a 1:00 kickoff at Ted Grant Field.

Match Highlights:
The 'Phins controlled play early on. Ludemann put a shot on goal from outside the 18-yard box in the second minute of the match, then a little over one minute later the 'Phins won possession at the edge of their attacking third, and redshirt-sophomore midfielder Ziad Abdul-Malak (Manlius, N.Y./Fayetteville-Manlius) sent a pass out to the left wing for Goodrich. Le Moyne's left back poked a pass into the left side of the box for Stuart, who received the ball with a defender on his back, then quickly turned towards the endline.

Redshirt-junior forward Noah Sperduto (Elmira, N.Y./Elmira) made a run towards the edge of the six-yard box, drawing the attention of multiple UD defenders. Stuart's pass sped on the ground across the box and was placed perfectly on the feet of Nicastro at the penalty spot. With his first touch, Nicastro drove the ball with the instep of his right foot past the diving goalkeeper and into the upper right corner of the net to put the visitors in front less than three minutes into the match.

In the fourth minute, Stuart earned a free kick for the 'Phins just outside the penalty area on the left side of the field, and Nicastro put a shot on goal off the set piece, but it was saved by Delaware sophomore goalkeeper Eddie DeMarco.

In the 13^th minute, UD senior forward Carlos Fernandez worked his way into the right side of the Le Moyne penalty area, then sent a pass across the box for Donnellan, who knocked the ball into the goal from inside the six-yard box to tie the game at 1-1.

Following a save from Dupell in the 23^rd minute, the 'Phins went on a quick counterattack the other way. Abdul-Malak sent a pass to the right wing for Ludemann, who got past his defender and raced into the final third of the pitch. Ludemann dribbled at UD's outside back into the penalty area, used his pace to create some space, then ripped a right-footed shot on the ground that saved by DeMarco on a diving effort.

Less than a minute later, the 'Phins were back on the attack. Sperduto dribbled out of pressure in Le Moyne's attacking third, then passed back to Abdul-Malak, who expertly picked out a pass to Ludemann on the right wing. Ludemann whipped in a bouncing cross towards the top of the 18-yard box for senior David Bosak (Marcellus, N.Y./Marcellus/Onondaga C.C.) who smashed a one-time half-volley that was blocked by DeMarco. Due to the pace of Bosak's shot, the ball ricocheted off DeMarco's chest and back out towards the penalty spot.

Among a cluster of players, Sperduto won the ball for the 'Phins, and put a sliding right-footed shot on target that was also blocked by DeMarco.

Delaware took their first lead of the game with just under 11 minutes left in the first half when Richard Monath sent a pass on the ground for Donnellan, who skillfully flicked the ball into the net from within the Le Moyne's six-yard box.

The Blue Hens would have doubled their lead in the 51^st minute if not for the defensive play of Stuart. Delaware sent a corner kick from the left flag towards the far post, and Einar Hardarson volleyed the ball on frame. Stuart, positioned at the near post on the play, blocked the shot on the goal line and cleared the ball away from danger.

In the 59^th minute, Stuart found Goodrich in the top right corner of the UD penalty area. Goodrich quickly picked out a pass to Sperduto, who received the ball with his back towards goal, and a defender closely marking him, at the edge of the six-yard box.

Sperduto turned towards his left shoulder and hit a right-footed shot on the ground that was blocked DeMarco. Ludemann raced to corral the rebound, and he was fouled by a UD defender in pursuit of the ball.

Had the referee allowed play to continue, the Dolphins would have scored the equalizing tally regardless, as Abdul-Malak stepped up to the loose ball and thumped a right-footed shot into the upper left portion of the net, but the whistle was blown and the 'Phins were awarded a penalty kick.

Goodrich put the ball on the spot and placed his PK attempt into the left side of the goal to tie the game at 2-2.

Dupell made a point-blank save on a shot from Justin Ruth with just over 29 minutes to play, then the Le Moyne rookie keeper made a great diving save in the 70^th minute to keep the score level.

With just over 19 minutes remaining, sophomore midfielder Bryce Koagel (West Monroe, N.Y./Paul V. Moore/Medaille) sent a ball in the air towards the left side of the UD penalty area. Stuart rose up over a defender and headed the ball backwards for Nicastro, who ripped a left-footed shot that sailed over the crossbar.

Dupell denied Donnellan a hat trick in the 77^th minute. Donnellan received a pass in the right side of the Le Moyne penalty area and placed his shot to the right of Dupell, but Le Moyne's keeper reacted quickly and came up with the kick save from close range. The ball fell to junior midfielder Orri Thorhallsson, and his rebound attempt was blocked by Le Moyne freshman center back Maximilian Huss.

With just under six minutes remaining, pressure from Sperduto in UD's defensive third led to a turnover from the Blue Hens. Stuart won possession for Le Moyne, and quickly sent a pass to his right for Ludemann. Ludemann nearly came up with the match winner, but his shot drilled the left post and flew out towards the opposite wing.

The Dolphins prevented Delaware from putting a shot on goal during the final seven minutes of the match, and they came away with a draw on the road.