By PAUL GOTHAM
ROCHESTER, N.Y. — With 25 minutes remaining in regulation of Thursday’s non-league match, the Livonia Bulldogs looked in command with a 2-0 lead over World of Inquiry (WOI).
Forty-five minutes later, the pair of perennial contenders exited with a draw.
A lineup change provided a spark for WOI. Issac Hakizimana scored twice and added an assist as the Griffins pulled even with Livonia, 3-3.
“If you can be happy with a tie, I’m happy with this result,” WOI head coach Rich Paufler said. “We learned a lot today. We can fight. That’s what I wanted to know. I wanted this test, middle of the season against a quality opponent. I’m so proud of the way that they played. They didn’t give up. They fought back, tied it up.”
Ehlermoo Tong created along the right flank and lifted a cross into the 18-yard box that Hakizimana settled in traffic and finished on his second touch.
Ehlermoo Tong to Isaac Hakizimana. 21:24 on the clock Livonia 2 World of Inquiry 1 pic.twitter.com/fNtXvCy58w
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 19, 2019
Five minutes later, Hakizimana threaded a pass along that same right wing. Tong took it in stride and went opposite side netting for the equalizer with 16:27 remaining.
Isaac Hakizimana returns the favor. Ehlermoo Tong connects on the equalizer. Livonia 2 World of Inquiry 2. 16:27 to go. pic.twitter.com/0W3k8YzQ8q
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 19, 2019
“We knew what we wanted to try and attack, but we just weren’t doing it,” Paufler said of his squad’s effort in the first half. “Once we started doing it and it was primarily on the right wing, we created chances.
“I moved a guy up. We had been playing just one guy up top. We added a little more firepower up top.”
Livonia, though, did not go away.
Jake Olver took advantage of takeaway in the World of Inquiry end and delivered a blast from 30 yards away for a 3-2 Livonia edge with 5:12 to go.
Hakizimana sent the game to overtime with a strike from the right wing again.
“We knew it was going to be a tough match,” Livonia head coach Ray Maxwell said. “You don’t see teams with individual skill like that very often.
Brendan Meyers denies a point blank attempt from Mandip Rai. Going to a second overtime: Livonia 3 World of Inquiry 3 pic.twitter.com/YMdWKIDNXC
— Paul Gotham (@PickinSplinters) September 19, 2019
“I’m disappointed we gave the goals up. We had the lead twice and we gave it up. We gave up poor goals. Our thought our defense was extremely poor today.”
Olver started the scoring late in the first half. The senior midfielder won a foot race to a long lead from teammate Ewan Maxwell. The Bulldogs led 1-nil with 4:03 to go in the first 40.
Sophomores Bryce Hoang and Shane Melead combined to double Livonia’s advantage. Hoang took Melead’s diagonal pass and eluded the WOI backline for his first goal of the season.
Livonia is 3-2-1 after Thursday’s result from the Trent Jackson Athletic Complex on the campus of Franklin High School. WOI is 6-2-1.
Livonia and WOI both won sectional titles and met in the 2017 NYS Class B Far West Regional qualifier. The Griffins won that game. That sectional title was Livonia’s sixth straight and fourth in row for WOI. Livonia grabbed a share of the 2012 NYS Class B crown. WOI advanced to the 2014 and 2016 NYS Class C finals before losing in both games.
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