HOLMDEL, N.J. – The shutout streak may be over, but the Ironbound Express are still perfect on the season as they walked away with a 2-2 tie against the Hampton Roads Piranhas on Thursday evening at Holmdel High School.
The Express finally allowed a goal after a 380 minute shutout streak, as Bryan Iotte took a 20 yard free kick to beat Ironbound Express goalie Michael Drozd. The shot seemed to creep pass the Express wall and behind a sprawling Drozd. The Express answered back just six minutes later in the 26th minute as midfielder Jeff Matteo netted his first goal of the season off a rebound.
However, the Express couldn’t keep the tie in the first half and allowed the Piranha’s to take a 2-1 lead in the 32nd minute. Hampton Road’s used a mishandled ball by Drozd to capitalize and take the lead as Mamadou Kone stood in front of the net for the squad’s second goal of the night.
The Express tied the contest in the second half, as Frank Alesci scored in the 69th minute. The Express out played the Piranha’s in the final stanza, outshooting them 8-4 and 14-11 in the contest.
Hampton Roads netminder Tyler Benham made seven saves, while Drozd made three saves all coming in the first half.
The Ironbound Express will return to Newark on Sunday for a 5 p.m. kickoff against the Carolina Dynamo. The Express will conclude the week with a Thursday evening meeting with the Bermuda at 8 p.m.
