ROCHESTER, N.Y. – The Roberts Wesleyan College men's soccer team extended its unbeaten streak to six games after battling to a scoreless draw with East Coast Conference rival D'Youville College on Saturday.
The Redhawks (6-4-2, 3-1-2) entered the match on a four-match winning streak and had several good scoring chances throughout 90 minutes of regulation and 20 minutes of overtime, but were unable to send the ball across the line.
The best chance for Roberts may have come off a corner kick with 16 minutes remaining in regulation as the Redhawks hit the crossbar twice and were ultimately turned away by D'Youville keeper Ethan Picard, who made eight saves.
"I kind of felt that if we could get one goal that more would come," Roberts coach Scott Reber said. "Unfortunately that didn't happen."
The game marked the return of junior goalkeeper Jared Gibbons for Roberts. Gibbons, who missed the previous three games after being injured in practice, was credited with three saves and two were of the spectacular variety.
"Jared had two huge saves, monstrous saves," Reber said. "He kept us in the game."
The first big stop by Gibbons came when he tipped the ball over the bar with 8:38 left in regulation. The second was a diving stop with 3:02 left in the second overtime.
"The ball came across and I got there as quick as I could," Gibbons said of the first stop. "It was pure reaction."
The Redhawks did have a special guest from the Class of 1981 at the game. Jaime Rivera, the all-time leading goal scorer in Roberts men's soccer history with 48, flew in from Miami to watch the team play.
It was Rivera's first trip to campus since the dedication of the Voller Athletic Center in 1986 and he was impressed with everything he saw on campus.
"I have an American Airlines flight tomorrow morning and I don't think that I need to be on that plane," said Rivera, who credits Roberts with giving him his wings. "I can fly home on my own."
As for the Redhawks, they return to action on Wednesday with a conference match at the College of Staten Island.