Bears Match against Reinhardt Results in 0-0 Draw

The list of tough opponents the Bears have to face this season continue to pile up with a conference match against the Eagles of Reinhardt University. Coming into the contest, the Bears found themselves fourth in the conference standings, while the Eagles were top of the standings with a 5-0 record in conference play. 

Though the match never saw a goal scored, there was plenty of excitement. Both teams had multiple chances to score but neither was able to break the scoreless tie. In the first half the Bears took a free kick just outside the penalty area. The ball was beautifully stuck as it was bent over a wall of Eagle defenders and dipped just in time to be on line to score, but Torge Wiedenroth, the GK for Reinhardt, dove and was able to get enough of the ball to deflect it away from the goal. The Bears' GK, Evan Gaffney, would not be tested in the first half, but his time to shine would come in the second half and the rest of the match. 

During the match, Gaffney was able to save a season-high total of six saves, five of which took place during the second half. Two of his saves came back to back in the sixty-first minute with Gaffney saving two shots within a few seconds of each other. Another one of Gaffney's excellent saves took place late in the second half off a corner kick. A ball was played in off a corner kick, and the Eagles thought they were about to take the lead. Their hopes would be thwarted as Gaffney made the save with only a short second to react to the ball. The match would go into both extra time periods, but neither team was able to break the scoreless tie, giving the match a final score of 0-0. 

"That game was a battle! From first second to the last both teams gave it their all and it was a real spectacle," said Coach Rob Miller after the match. "Evan Gaffney played his best game in a TMU shirt and was exceptional! Reinhardt were a very well coached team that has given us the biggest test we have faced so far this season, which speaks volumes that we came away with a tie." The Bears' next game will be home against Bob Jones University on Saturday October 7th at noon.