The Lancaster Bible men's soccer team opened its season against Ramapo on Tuesday in Lancaster, Pa. and for the first time in the program's 43-year history, the Chargers opened the season with a tie. The Chargers and Roadrunners battled to a 2-2 tie over 110 minutes as both teams battled exhaustion in the late-summer humidity. 

After a scoreless first half, Lancaster Bible freshman Malik Parsons got the Chargers on the board at 48:31 with his first collegiate goal. Fellow freshman Mason Bard played a perfect ball through the defense that Parsons tracked down and blasted past Ramapo goalkeeper Ryan Sprague to make it 1-0 Lancaster Bible. 



Ramapo answered back less than six minutes later as Jorge Castro worked his way into the box and chipped the ball over Lancaster Bible goalkeeper Vann Sutphin. Two minutes later, the Roadrunners took the lead on a great goal by Ryan Campbell who headed in a cross from Trevor Albrecht. 

The score stayed the same until 71:40 when senior Nathan Grimley found the ball in the box and put it past a sprawling Sprague to the tie game at 2-2. Edward Bills and Spencer Lockard assisted on the goal, which was the fourth of Grimley's career. 

Lancaster Bible had a golden opportunity to win the game with 3:46 remaining, but Sprague earned his redemption by saving a penalty kick by Lancaster Bible senior Josiah Groff. The ensuing rebound chance went over net and the teams were headed to overtime just over three and a half minutes later. 

As nightfall fell over Charger Field, the teams battled for 20 more minutes. Each team had a quality opportunity in the overtime period, but none was greater than Ramapo's Justin Olaya who hit the left post with his shot with less than four minutes remaining in the second overtime. 

"There were lots of positives and we certainly need to work on things, but I liked that we played a physical game for 110 minutes and defended better late in the second half after giving up those goals in the middle part of the second half," Lancaster Bible Head Coach Tom Ardt said. "We created chances throughtout the game and this was a good early season test for our guys."

Ramapo finished the game with 31 shots, while the Chargers had 20. The Chargers held a 7-5 edge in corner kicks and an 8-7 advantage in saves.

Lancaster Bible played all three goalkeepers on Tuesday, while Ramapo played both of its goalkeepers as well. 

The Chargers return to action next Tuesday when they face Stevenson at 7 p.m. in Stevenson, Md.

Notes;
-Lancaster Bible is now 11-29-3 in its season openers and 12-26-6 in its all-time home openers.

-Tuesday marked just the second time in the past 12 seasons that Lancaster Bible has scored at least two goals in its season opener.