WAYNESBURG, Pa. (October 19) – The Waynesburg University men's soccer team used a late goal to secure a 1-1 draw against first-place Franciscan on Homecoming at John F. Wiley Stadium on Saturday night.

Waynesburg moves to 7-4-3 on the season and 3-2-3 in Presidents' Athletic Conference (PAC) action. The Jackets are tied for fourth in the league standings with 12 points and two conference games remaining. 

The Jackets and Barons played a scoreless first half with eight shots total and five on target between the two teams. Michael Francus (Bethel Park, Pa. / Bethel Park) made thee saves in the first 20 minutes of play and his counterpart Aiden Miller made two stops in the final 15 minutes of the half.

Waynesburg survived a chaotic sequence in the Jackets' own penalty area in the 63rd minute as the Barons had a long-range shot parried by Francus and recovered by Franciscan 10-yards from the left post. Franciscan centered the ball, had a shot blocked and another one lined up before an offside whistle ended the threat.

Francus added a diving save on a shot aimed at the lower right corner in the 67th. 

Franciscan broke through with a goal following a free kick in the 74th minute. The Barons blasted a long ball into the box that was initially blocked by Francus, who was bumped in the box, but Franciscan's Julian Freeman pounced on the loose ball and tapped in the game's first goal.

Zachary Johnson (Raceland, Ky. / Saint Joseph Central Catholic) got to his left foot in transition but his shot missed high and a wide in the 79th.

Seth Massotti (Douglas, Mass. / Whitinsville Christian) laced a ball from the right end line toward the opposite post in the 81st minute. The Franciscan keeper got a finger on the ball but it still found its target in Josh Smith (Dover, Ohio / Dover) whose sliding shot found the back of the net and tied the game at one.

Both teams earned a corner kick in the final 10 minutes of regulation, but neither side recorded a shot.

Franciscan held a 9-7 edge in shots (7-4 SOG) while Waynesburg had a 5-4 advantage in corner kicks.

Massotti's assist set Waynesburg's single-season assists record with nine. He sits second in program history in career assists with 19, two shy of David Peters' ('07) record of 21.

Francus finished with six saves.

The Jackets travel to Erie to take on Penn State Behrend on Wednesday night.