The long-awaited return of soccer games came Sunday as the Tompkins Cortland Community College men's team played host to Erie Community College. The Panthers jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first half, but the Kats clawed back to claim a 3-3 tie. It was the first game since the fall of 2019 for both teams.

The return was a pleasant one at the start as it took little time for the Panthers to get on the board. In the fifth minute of play, Mehdi Nya Louhaichy (Madrid, Spain/GED) let loose a blast from 30 yards out, beating the Erie keeper for the first goal of 2021. Midway through the half the lead grew to 2-0 on a pretty set play. Terry Paw (Ithaca/Ithaca H.S.) took a corner kick and placed it perfectly in the box for Diego Castellot (Marathon/Marathon H.S.) to head it into the net. It looked like the score would remain 2-0 heading into the half, but Paw provided some last second excitement. With the clock below 10 seconds left in the half, Erie took a free kick from deep in their own half. Dan Cowulich (Berkshire/Newark Valley H.S.) intercepted the pass near midfield, heading it to Paw, who turned and launched a long ball that beat the Erie keeper and found the net with 2.2 seconds left in the half.

The Panthers opened the second half with a 3-0 lead, but Erie cut into the lead quickly, scoring in the fifth minute of action. The score held at 3-1 most of the second half, but the Kats came on strong at the end, scoring twice in the final nine minutes of regulation. With the score knotted at 3-3, the two teams played through a pair of scoreless 10-minute overtimes, producing the final result of a tie.

The teams squared off on penalty kicks following the overtimes, to be used to break any possible tie for qualifying for the postseason. Erie took the PKs, 5-4.

Steve Cowulich (Berkshire/Newark Valley H.S.) had eight saves in goal for the Panthers.

Looking ahead

The Panthers are scheduled to play next at Herkimer College on April 23.