OWU Online | Sports Releases

Fredonia State 1, Capital 0
Ohio Wesleyan 1, Greensboro 0

Sept. 3, 2005

[ Brandon Bianco ] Junior midfielder Brandon Bianco (Powell/Olentangy) scored the game-winning goal in the second overtime as Ohio Wesleyan won the Fred Myers Invitational with a hard-fought win over Greensboro on Saturday night at Roy Rike Field.

Fredonia defeated Capital in overtime in the consolation game.

The first half of the championship game was a defensive battle, with neither team assembling many scoring chances.

Ohio Wesleyan had the first dangerous chance of the game when junior midfielder Erik Ciccarelli (Columbus/Worthington Kilbourne) hit the post with a shot in the 38th minute.

The Bishops had another golden opportunity midway through the second half when Bianco picked off a ball that was mis-hit by the Pride defense and crossed the ball to sophomore forward Damon Wilson (Mullica Hill, N.J./St. Andrews (Del.)) racing toward the left post, but Wilson's tip-in attempt was wide.

Greensboro threatened twice in the closing minutes of regulation time. With just over 2 minutes to play, Geoff George ran down a crossing pass near the left post, but his shot was wide. Then, in the final 30 seconds, the Pride earned a corner kick. Eric Hatchett sent the ball into the mouth of the goal, and Robert Fricke's header bounced off the crossbar. Justin Tinder got to the rebound, but his follow shot was wide and the game went into overtime.

Ohio Wesleyan sophomore back Ben Brewer (Columbus/Dublin Scioto) had the best scoring chance during the first overtime period, corraling the ball after a throw-in and sending a shot wide of the right post.

The Bishops ended the game in the second overtime. On a restart by senior forward Jeff Fisher (Westerville/North), the ball went to Wilson near the right post. Pride goalkeeper Matt Brown appeared to deflect Wilson's header, but the ball trickled along the goal line and Bianco was there to put it into the back of the net.

Ohio Wesleyan outshot Greensboro, 17-10. Sophomore Jamison Dague (Bexley) went the distance in the Ohio Wesleyan goal, making 2 saves. Brown had 6 saves for the Pride.

In Saturday's opener, Trevor Ianni scored midway through the first overtime period to lift Fredonia State over Capital. The play started with a header by Matt Mahaffey, and Mahaffey kept the play alive with another header before Ianni pounced on the loose ball in the box.

Fredonia State outshot Capital, 20-10. Matt Borchard had 6 saves for Fredonia State, while John Snyder stopped 12 shots in the Capital goal.

Ohio Wesleyan senior midfielder Ryan Martin (Dublin/Wellington) received the Dick Gauthier Award as the Myers Invitational's Most Valuable Player. He was joined on the all-tournament team by Bianco, Brewer, junor back Jeff Sullivan (Powell/Olentangy) and junior back Josh Warren (Fort Wayne, Ind./Homestead).

The Fred Myers Invitational, sponsored by the Kiwanis Club of Delaware County, has been one of the featured events on the Battling Bishops' schedule for 28 seasons. It honors Fred Myers, longtime soccer and lacrosse coach at Ohio Wesleyan.

2005 Fred Myers Invitational all-tournament team

Ohio Wesleyan Greensboro Fredonia State Capital

Brandon Bianco (#4) Tony Falvino (#8) Vincenzo Alfieri (#4) Tony Miller (#7)

Ryan Martin (#10) Eric Hatchett (#19) Jordan Berg (#10) Heath Oberle (#23)

Ben Brewer (#11) Matt Brown (#26) Matt Mahaffey (#19)

Jeff Sullivan (#23)

Josh Warren (#24)

Dick Gauthier Award
(Tournament Most Valuable Player): Ryan Martin, Ohio Wesleyan.