Box Score Rome GA - The Shorter Hawks men's soccer team battled NCAA II 14th ranked, West Florida to a 3-3 draw Sunday afternoon in a classic and exciting Gulf South Conference matchup. 
 
The visiting Argonauts (8-1-1) struck first after a scoreless first period when a loose ball on top of the Hawks 18 fell to Davi Alves who slotted it past Shorter keeper Matthew Shorrocks to make it 1-0. 
 
But the Hawks (4-5-2) responded just two minutes later on a similar loose ball in the UWF penalty area as Jackson Wheatley fired home his conference leading 10th goal of the season to knot the game at one. 
 
The Hawks would then take the lead as Val Evans headed home the rebound of a penalty kick in the 64th minute. 
 
The Blue and White added their 3rd goal in 8 minutes to make it 3-1 when Jan Gruhn headed home a ball from Hernan Saldana with 25 minutes remaining. 
 
But the top ranked Argonauts rallied for two goals by Rafael Godoy and Trayvon Spencer  in the 73rd and 84th minute to tie the match with six minutes to play in regulation.  
 
On the heartbreaking equalizer for the Hawks, Matthew Shorrocks was forced out of the game after a collision with the West Florida attacker, Spencer. 
 
Javy Flores finished the batch in goal for the Hawks and preserving the tie which included two big saves. 
 
West Florida managed just one shot in goal in overtime and held the edge overall 7-5. 
 
"It was really an exciting match from a spectator standpoint. Having said that there's no question it's heartbreaking we didn't hold the two goal lead. But that's why UWF is among the top DII program nationally," said Hawks Coach Paul Furey. 
 
 "I'm proud we did not totally crumble with the late momentum swing and  held on for a tie - especially as we had to switch keepers.  Javy (Flores) did a terrific job in goal for us  in the last 27 minutes of the match."
 
"We are still a work in progress," added Furey.  "We have evolved from sitting at the bottom of the table a year ago to earning a draw with a top ranked team.  We still have a way to go but this is a good step in the right direction."  
 
The Hawks hit the road this week to Memphis to face Christian Brothers Friday and Union next Sunday.