HIRAM, Ohio – Needing a last-minute equalizer, Allegheny freshman Izaak Miller blasted a shot past Hiram goalkeeper Luke Wilhelm off of a behind-the-back volley from senior Cameron Olson to help the Gators tie the Terriers, 1-1, in a North Coast Athletic Conference (NCAC) bout on Wednesday evening at Henry Field.

Miller's goal, the first of his collegiate career, was scored with 117 seconds on the clock, providing a proper bookend to a second half that was dominated by the Blue and Gold.  Outshooting Hiram, 7-1, in the second stanza, Olson gathered a loose ball on the edge of the six with his back to the net, lifting a bounce behind his head to the middle of the box where it found Miller, who launched home the game-tying tally.

Junior goalkeeper Jake Pugliese posted six saves, including several diving stops in the first period and overtime to help the Gators to the tie.  The two teams played an immensely even contest, with Hiram controlling the opening stanza before the Gators grabbed hold in the second.  Allegheny posted 17 shots, including six on goal, while the Terriers took 18 shots, including seven towards the target. 

Hiram put the pressure on the Gators early, generating three corner kicks in the first 7:30 of the contest, before the gators were awarded three corner kicks before the 14-minute mark, resulting in opportunities from seniors Axel Monzon and Cameron Olson that missed the target.  Olson tacked on a shot in the 15th minute opportunity, a strong chance that was snagged by Wilhelm.

Pugliese withstood the Hiram offensive onslaught, making four saves between the 22nd and 35th minute.  After freshman Tolossa Hassan sent a shot wide in the 32nd minute, followed by a high attempt from senior Stefano Wach in the 37th, Hiram tallied a goal in the 39th minute, as Tanner Matthews knocked in a low volley off of the corner kick to give the Terriers a 1-0 lead at the half. 

Sophomore Scott Powell generated an opportunity in the 52nd minute, setting the tone for the Gators in the latter half that saw Allegheny take seven shots.  Back-to-back attempts from senior Alejandro Weil and Hassan were turned aside in the 63rd minute, as Olson forced Wilhelm to save a header in the 85th.

After having two changes called off due to offsides calls, Allegheny pushed forward in the waning moments in the game to set the stage for Miller's equalizer.  Pugliese kept the Gators in the game during the first overtime period, making one save on three total shots to send the game into the second overtime period.

Sophomore Jonas Skattum took a shot from the top of the box off of a pass by senior Daniel Szekely in the 103rd minute, but Wilhelm made the save off of the well-hit attempt to keep the tie intact.  With under three minutes remaining in the second overtime period, Matthews had a look at his second goal of the game, but the shot from inside the 18 ricocheted off of the post, as Pugliese was able to smother the follow-up, making an additional save on a strong attempt from the near side seconds later to help the Gators salvage the tie.

The Gators will next return to Frank B. Fuhrer Field on Saturday, Oct. 18 for their homecoming matchup against NCAC foe Ohio Wesleyan at 6 p.m.