Overtime was not enough to separate the Falcon men’s soccer team from Hartwick yesterday afternoon as the two teams played to a 2-2 draw.

The Falcons have shown exponential improvement in their last three games, with a 1-1-1 record to show for it.

‘We had some time off before the Buffalo game, and we really sort of figured things out from there,’ said coach Eric Nichols. ‘We have really gotten better. Defensively we are more organized.’

Nichols was pleased with his team’s ability to score yesterday, even without leading scorer Cameron Hepple who re-injured his groin earlier this week.

‘We played to win, and we scored two goals on a team that does not give up goals,’ Nichols said. ‘We also fended off a lot of set pieces, which we knew we would have to do.’

Hartwick started the scoring early in the second half as Steven Amaya belted a cleared corner into the back of the net, which Falcon keeper Dylan Schoettley couldn’t save.

The Falcons responded almost immediately as Hartwick committed a hand ball foul in the box, leading to a penalty kick converted by Jacob Lawrence.

Lawrence, a converted defender, has been making the most of his time as forward, scoring four goals and setting up another in his last three games.

‘We had some injuries and coach gave me the opportunity to move up front,’ Lawrence said. ‘So far it’s worked out great for us.’

Play resumed after the penalty conversion, but not until Hartwick’s Dan Summers was sent off for dissent toward the referee.

With 10 minutes left in regulation the Falcons took the lead as Lawrence showed his versatility, doing well to head in a corner by Hunter Van Houten.

Up a goal and a man, the Falcons inexplicably decided to pack it in defensively, allowing Hartwick to attack with no threat of a Falcon counter-attack.

Three minutes later the Hawks had drawn even when Colin Armstrong was called for a questionable foul in the box.

‘We went to a 4-5-1 formation and got pushed back too far,’ Nichols said. ‘We just let our lines get pushed too far back toward goal.’

Both teams had chances in the extra session to score a game winner, but it was not to be as the clock ticked to zero with a tied score.

One bright spot for the Falcons has been the emergence of Ahmad Smith, who has been the team’s first choice striker in the absence of Hepple.

Smith – a junior who has seen little playing time this season – scored the only goal for the Falcons at Michigan State last week and was a constant threat to do the same against Hartwick.

‘We have had such a strong progression from a few weeks ago until now,’ Smith said.

As for his individual play, he is glad he can help the team secure positive results.

‘It seems I can help the team a lot more up top,’ Smith said. ‘If Cameron can come back, and he can play with Jacob and [I], we could be unstoppable up front. It’s a constant threat; a triple threat of speed, skill and height.’

If Hepple can make it back for next weekend’s match against Northern Illinois, those three players may indeed play together.

‘I think we would love to see those three playing together,’ Nichols said. ‘It would be a pretty dangerous attack. It’s just a matter of getting Cameron healthy.”