In the words of Lancaster Bible Director of Athletics Rod Baughman…. "what just happened?"
 
Have you ever heard of three goals in just five minutes of play? Yes, that's right… three goals! The Lancaster Bible men's soccer team traveled to Harrisburg, Pa. on Wednesday night in a much anticipated, high-intensity match with United East rival Penn St. Harrisburg. Wednesday's match would turn out to be one for the books as the Chargers would end in a 3-3 draw with the Lions. The draw puts the Chargers to 6-3-2 on the season and currently sit 3-1-1 in United East conference play.
 
How It Happened: The game would be competitive from the start, as two perennial teams went head-to-head for the first time since the Chargers lost to Harrisburg in the conference championship last year. As each touch and pass increased with importance, Harrisburg would be the first to strike, finding the net in the 25^th minute on a cross that found the opposite side wing for the score. With a 1-0 deficit, the Chargers would look to make any push they could get but it would seem as though the Lions would eliminate any possibilities.
 
The second half would kickoff and the Chargers would look to get things going offensively, looking for a defensive breakdown but not be able to find any luck with the Lions defense. On the contrary, the Lions would proceed to score two more goals extending their lead to 3-0 and taking what would seem to be any air left in the Chargers. That's what it seemed to be at least.
 
Despite the many Lion celebrations, the Chargers would take the ball right back to midfield to kick off the remaining time of the game and a spark would be lit as the Chargers would have three shots on goal and two corner kicks. To put it in perspective, that is more offense in the following ten minutes than the entire first half. And with each attack, a little more hope was filled on the Chargers' sideline. In the 80^th minute, a valiant effort by junior Kyle Hughes would lead to a penalty kick within the box that'd be placed in the back of the net by senior Clark Shreiner. And a point on the scoreboard is just what the Chargers needed.
 
Just three minutes later a corner kick would be sent in the box by senior Kedric Yorder which would bounce around a few times before being trapped by fellow senior defender Nate Muckle who would proceed to place a right-footed shot just off the post and in. The game quickly became a game of possibilities at the 84^th minute, and the Chargers were ready for the impossible.
 
The Chargers would find themselves in the same position as just a minute ago, a Yoder corner kick and this time the ball would bounce around the box again as both the Chargers and Lions were in desperation mode. Almost like a scene out of a movie, the ball would fly out the box only to meet the right-foot of Clark Shreiner who was in the process of timing up a last-shot bicycle kick. The ball would connect just perfectly with Shreiner who would send a banger right to the top right corner of the crossbar and in. The game was equalized at 3-3 all, and all in a matter of just five minutes.
 
The game would end 3-3 and complete the almost impossible Charger comeback, giving Charger athletics an early front-runner for best game of the year.
 
From the Coach: "Tough start to the game overall, we couldn't solve some of the problems that Harrisburg presented. They are a strong team. But we kept working and found a way to fight back through set pieces. Credit to every guy for stepping up." – Head Coach Tommy Ardt
 
By the Numbers:

• Senior Clark Shreiner scored two goals tonight including the game-tying goal at the 85^th minute, he now has seven goals on the season.
• Senior Nate Muckle scored his first goal of the season, and a critical one to say the least.
• Goalkeeper Isaac Barrow finished with three saves.

 
Information to Know: This is just the second tie with Penn St. Harrisburg, a matchup dating all the way back to 2005 and might quite be the craziest comeback of the Lancaster Bible men's soccer program history.
 
Up Next: The Chargers will return home for another United East Conference matchup, this time against the Wells College Express on Saturday, October 8^th at 3:30 p.m.