Late surge earns Zion-Benton draw

Updated: October 12, 2011 8:04PM

Zion-Benton scored twice in the final 4:42 of play to earn a 4-4 tie with host Antioch on Wednesday in a nonconference boys soccer match.

The Zee-Bees play Highland Park on Thursday, while Antioch will host a regional tournament next week.

Ivan Martinez took a pass from Chris Sandine at the top of the box, turned and snuck a grounder inside the post to make it 4-3. Then, with 59 seconds left, Martinez was hauled down in the box, and Pollo Wence drilled home the game-tying PK.

“This is the way we’ve played the last month,” said Zion coach Cliff Pontillo. “We play well for 70 minutes, but lose track of things for 10 minutes.”

After taking a 1-0 lead on an early goal by Sandine, Zion saw Antioch score three unanswered — Ryan Geidner (12th minute), Iven Hernandez (28th) and Hernandez (29th) to go up 3-1 at the break.

Zion’s Martinez scored in the 62nd minute to make it 3-2, but Antioch’s Hernandez completed his hat trick in the 66th minute. All three of the freshman’s tallies were assisted by Geidner.

That lead looked as if it would hold, but Z-B pushed forward and earned the tie.

“You should never (not win) when you’re winning 3-1 or 4-2. We started playing sloppy like we had the game won when we didn’t,” said Antioch coach Marni Polakow. “I told them if this is how they’re going to finish the (upcoming IHSA regional game) against Johnsburg, then we’re going to be done in the first round.”

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