Master's battles back to tie Bethesda

Second-half goals from Caden Zierenberg and Jonathan Lengkey helped TMU Men's Soccer overturn a two-goal first-half deficit and earn a 2-2 draw with Bethesda University California on Friday afternoon.
 
"We struggled in the first half with their combination play that resulted in a two-goal deficit," Master's Head Coach Jim Rickard said. "But we made some key adjustments at half and started to defend better and put some passes together in the attack."
 
After not recording a single shot in the opening 45 minutes, the Mustangs picked up their offensive intensity after the break, recording all five of its shots on the afternoon.
 
Zierenberg gave TMU a lifeline in the 65th minute with a left-footed strike from outside the 18-yard box after a nifty one-two with Aidan Rohde, whose backheel setup the freshman for his first collegiate goal.
 
Giorgio Martino narrowly missed with his effort with under 15 minutes to play, before Lengkey's heroics with 50 seconds remaining sent the game to overtime.
 
The 6-foot-7 converted forward picked the pocket of a Flames defender before slotting into the back of the net to tie the game.
 
"A really great combination and finish between Aidan and Caden helped us cut the score in half," Rickard said. "We kept working as a team and pulled off a late equalizer set around some direct balls to Jonathan."
 
Neither team was able to break the deadlock in either overtime period, but the draw left Rickard and the Mustangs with positives to take after a slow start to the game.
 
"Everyone was struggling in overtime with the heat and we weren't able to pull out the win, but we showed a lot of progress on the young season," Rickard said.
 
Master's (2-2-1 overall) returns to Reese Field on Thursday and Saturday next week when TMU hosts Marymount and UC Merced as part of The Master's Fall Classic.