The Covenant men's soccer team could not hold on to a pair of one-goal leads as USA South East Division co-leader Greensboro rallied for a 3-2, double-overtime victory over the Scots on Friday afternoon at Pride Field.
The loss for Covenant (6-11-1, 2-6-1 USA South) extended a tough record in close matches this year. The Scots are now 0-4-1 in overtime games this season and 3-7 in matches decided by a single goal.
The win kept Greensboro (13-4, 8-1 USA South) at pace for the lead in the East Division.
The Pride are tied with N.C. Wesleyan heading into the final two regular season conference matches of the year.
Covenant struck first in the sixth minute. Jonathan Barrett dribbled his way into the box and placed his shot perfectly past Greensboro keeper Caelan Kohut and into the net giving the Scots a 1-0 lead. The goal was Barrett's third of the season. Greensboro would answer back in the 13th minute when Carlos Barragan converted a penalty kick to tie the score at 1-1.
Despite being outshot the whole match, Covenant was able to find the back of the net again. In the 57th minute, Christopher Kitchen's free kick landed inside the 18-yard box then took one bounce where Ethan Pettit headed it into the net for the score. The goal was Pettit's second of the season and the assist was Kitchen's first.
But again Greensboro would find an answer. Gerardo Peraza rocketed the ball from outside the box and past Covenant keeper Jonathan Crossman to tie the match at 2-2 in the 80th minute.
Neither team would be able to capitalize in the final 10 minutes and through the first overtime. In the 102nd minute, quick passing from Greensboro's Barragan and Peraza led to an opportunity for Jacob Owens who knocked in his second goal of the year to give the host Pride a 2-1 victory.
Greensboro held a 20-4 edge in total shots. Pettit, Isaac Johnson, Josh Brower and Barrett each took a shot for the Scots. Crossman made six saves in the loss, while Kohut made one save for Greensboro.
UP NEXT
Covenant will travel to Cary, N.C., on Saturday to take on William Peace in a USA South matchup. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m.