Scoreless draw starts NEAC proceedings for men's soccer

After each team won once in two 2015 meetings between the Wells College and Keuka College men's soccer teams, the early portion of the 2016 season didn't see any separation between the teams as Wells and Keuka tied 0-0 on Sunday, Sept. 11. It was the first North Eastern Athletic Conference match of the season for both teams.

Keuka won the regular-season game between the teams last year, but Wells defeated the Wolves in the semifinals of the NEAC playoffs in a neutral-site match at Morrisville.

In Sunday's meeting, each team had 15 shots through the first 90 minutes of action. The best scoring chance for Wells in the first half came in the final minute of play, when the Keuka goalkeeper vacated his net to pursue a loose ball in the box. Benjamen Schanbacher got to the ball first and curled a shot toward the net but it was headed off of the goal line by a Keuka defender.

Keuka had a free kick just outside the penalty area in the 50th minute but it was shot wide of the net. The Wolves then hit the post with a shot in the 76th minute. Wells led the attacking play in the final 14 minutes and had a glorious chance to score when Junger Vargas eluded a defender and shot past an on-rushing Keuka goalkeeper, but the effort was denied by the right post.

Wells goalkeeper Owen May made his best save in overtime, diving to his left to keep out a low, hard shot from Keuka's Rohel Dunca.

May finished the match with seven saves and Willie Romero had five saves for Keuka.

After playing nearly two complete seasons without having a match end in a draw, the Express has tied two of its first three matches in the 2016 campaign. Wells returns to action Tuesday at Ithaca College for a 4 p.m. game.