NEWBERRY - Some have suggested that the reason soccer isn't quite as popular in the United States as it is Europe, is that Americans have never been able to understand the value of a tie.  A zero-sum affair with no loser, for whatever reason, is a concept lost on the masses.  However, the masses at the Newberry Soccer Complex Sunday afternoon found no fault in the Indian men's soccer team playing the #10 Tusculum Pioneers to a 2-2 draw.

Coming into the match, Sam Okpodu's Indians knew they would not be able to out-muscle a physically daunting opponent like the Pioneers. Instead, they used superior speed and quickness, putting pressure on the Tusculum defense all game long.

That being said, a large part of thanks must be granted to Newberry keeper Bryan Linn (Safety Harbor, Fla.) who had, by far, his finest game of the season, along with his finest save of the year.  In the 18th minute, a dangerous ball was sent into the box by Andre Nesfield (Arima, Trinidad) finding the deadly Paul Hopkins (Portsmouth, England).  Hopkins sent a rocket at the goal, only to be bested by a leaping Linn.  Linn finished the match with 12 saves.

Newberry notched the opening goal in the 26th minute, off an own goal by Tusculum.  Pioneer defender Jay Harris (London, England) made a careless pass to starting keeper J.P. Swaminathan (Brampton, Ontario), who was caught off his line.  The ball trickled slowly passed Swaminathan to give Newberry the lead 1-0. 

In the second half, the Pioneers played up to their high national ranking, as forwards Hopkins and Alexander Eddo (Brown Hill, Nevis, West Indies) put tremendous pressure on the Indian defense.  The defense for Newberry finally bent in the 56th minute, as Nesfield sent a crossing ball to Eddo, who went upper-90 for the equalizer.  The Pioneers kept up the pressure, winning a corner just two minutes after Eddo's goal.  As Nesfield sent the corner kick in the box, a foul was called on a Newberry defender, leading to a penalty kick for Tusculum.  Hopkins converted, leaving the Indians down 2-1 with just over 34 minutes remaining in the match.

With just over two minutes remaining in the match, it looked like Tusculum was well on their way to their tenth victory of the season.  Regrettably, the Pioneers did not ask Indian freshman Kyle Rudder (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad) his thoughts on the subject.  In the 89th minute, Rudder flicked a beautiful ball into the net courtesy of Ricardo Silveira (Sao Paulo, Brazil) and senior leader Jason Wiggins (Charleston, S.C.) as the Indians locked the match at two goals apiece.

In the overtime periods, both teams were unable to convert their best looks to win the match.  In the first OT, Linn stopped a screaming header from Jeremy Partin (Germantown, Ohio).  Newberry's best chance, perhaps the best for both teams, came as play started in the second OT period.  Edsel Rudder (Port-of-Spain, Trinidad) sent a text book cross into the box, looking for Silveira.  Silveira left his feet and tried a scissor kick, but the hard shot was deflected by then-Pioneer keeper Cameron Bailey (Winchester, Tenn.). 

With the tie, Newberry moves to 5-4-2 on the season.  Next up for the Indians is a game at Due West, S.C., as they take on always tough Erskine College this Wednesday at 7 p.m.