Reid Popple's Goal in 61st Minute Helps Force 1-1 Tie

By Matthew D. Stokes
BerryVikings.com Staff Writer

After allowing a 60th minute goal, Berry's men's soccer team needed less than a minute to answer, and eventually went on to tie Virginia Wesleyan 1-1 in the Vikings' home opener at Ford Field Sunday. 

Following a scoreless but physical first half, the Marlins put the first goal on the scoreboard at 59:18, as Josh McNamara blasted a shot from the top of the box past Berry goalkeeper Kevin Madigan.

Less than a minute later, Berry co-captain Reid Popple took a shot from the right side of the goal, launching it into the upper-right corner to tie the game.

"It was a good response mentally from the team," Berry coach Richard Vardy said. "You always want that when you go a goal down."

Following Popple's goal at 60:04, the game remained tied in regulation, forcing it into the first overtime.

The Vikings had an opportunity there as they set up for an indirect kick within ten yards of the Marlins' goal, but failed to convert.

"It wasn't a massive incident in the game," Vardy said of the scrum in the box that led to the indirect kick.

The game stayed tied after the first overtime period, and rolled over to the second 10-minute extra session, where neither team scored.

The Vikings outshot the visiting Marlins, 15-12, including five shots on goal. Popple, Zak Wallingford, Josh Hughes and David Shaw had three shots apiece.

Madigan finished with five saves for the Vikings, four of which were recorded in the second half and the two overtimes. The Marlins' Ryan Zmuda had four saves.

Berry returns to action Sept. 25, when it travels to Emory University in Atlanta for a 1:30 p.m., homecoming matchup. The Vikings will return to Ford Field Oct. 1 against Maryville College at 3:30 p.m.

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