Following three losses in a row to Walsh, Ohio Dominican and Saginaw Valley State, the men’s soccer headed into its last four games of the regular season needing to do some damage in order to make the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference tournament.

At Findlay (4-8-1, 2-8-1)

The Eagles headed to Findlay on Oct. 19 looking to stop a three-game skid in which they gave up nine goals while scoring just four. Ashland succeeded in stopping the losing streak, but was only able to muster a draw through two overtimes.

Mark Sleasman put the Oilers in front less than 14 minutes in with a long-range strike that was assisted by Ryan Poyle.

Despite giving up the lead, the Eagles had the majority of the attacking play in the first half with nine shots to Findlay’s three.

Eric Ashley finally made the pressure play early in the second half, getting the rebound off of sophomore forward Adam Mitchell’s shot and slotting it into the goal for the equalizer.

Things remained level heading into overtime, where Ashland continued its attacking play.

The Eagles fired four shots and held the Oilers without a legitimate scoring opportunity in the extra periods. However, AU was unable to convert and had to settle for the draw.

Findlay goalkeeper Matthew Brooks was on fire, making 13 saves, and Ashland junior goalkeeper Justin Nolan made two stops to hold the Oilers to just the one goal.

At Northwood (8-5-1, 7-4)

The Eagles left home again Oct. 21 to take on Northwood, who was looking to avenge a 2-1 defeat earlier in the season that came on a strike by Mitchell in the dying moments.

Ashland conceded early, allowing James DeCosemo to roam free and knock home a pass from Carter Brochu to make it 1-0.

The Timberwolves doubled their lead half an hour in, Brochu getting on the end of a loose ball that came off of a cross by Mitchell Brent.

Ashland graduate junior forward Guilherme Karaoglan pulled a goal back for the Eagles less than a minute later, and the score remained 2-1 going into the break.

Northwood, who fired 13 total shots in the first half, continued to control play in the second period, finishing with a 28-4 advantage in total shots.

The Timberwolves scored on two of their second-half opportunities to put the game away. Brent netted both of the goals within five minutes of each other on assists from Brochu.

Nolan made seven saves for the Eagles, while Northwood keeper Johannes Sterobo did not make a single stop in the win.

Urbana (9-6-1)

On a rainy, cold Senior Night on Friday night at Ferguson Field, Ashland could not stop a stream of early Urbana goals on the way to a 3-1 loss.

The Blue Streaks struck three times within the first 13 minutes to ruin the night for the five AU seniors.

“I’m disappointed in how we stepped out,” head coach Jon Freeman said. “I didn’t feel like we were focused enough, and Urbana was and they put it to us.”

One positive for Ashland was that senior defender/midfielder Danny Lusheck got to put on his No. 4 jersey for the first time this season and the last of his career.

Lusheck, who was a starter and emotional leader for the Eagles in 2010 and 2011, suffered a broken leg during the offseason and was had to sit on the sidelines during his senior season.

Despite the injury, Lusheck still made his presence felt with emotional support and guidance for the younger players.

He finished his career with five goals and three assists. He started his final game at right back Friday night.

“It was good to see him on the field,” Freeman said. “Going through the injury that he went through and battling to just get back to where we could get him a little bit on the field, it was good to see that.”

The floodgates opened 63 seconds in when Tyler Wason dribbled in behind Ashland’s defense and slotted a shot past Nolan to make it 1-0.

Five minutes later, a dangerous ball came in from the right side and was knocked in by an AU defender for an own goal.

Wason scored his second in the 13th minute off of an assist by Carl Peers.

“You dig yourself a 3-0 hole, it’s tough to come back from,” Freeman said.

Junior midfielder/forward Zaan Janse subbed in near the end of the first half for the Eagles, making his presence felt in the 42nd minute with a strike from just outside the penalty area that flew into the back of the net to make it 3-1.

Ashland had to go on the offensive to start the second half and seemed to control play for much of the play. Unfortunately, the Eagles were unable to capitalize on nine second-half shots.

“I thought we had some good opportunities, but we’ve got to do a better job with those opportunities,” Freeman said. “I don’t think our final decision is always a good one.”

Ashland wound up with 12 total shots, six of which were on goal. The Blue Streaks fired 16 times with nine on frame.

Nolan made six saves for the Eagles.

The other seniors making their final home appearance for AU were defender/midfielder Mitch Deyhle, midfielder Andrew Over, defender Chris Hrovat and goalkeeper Kurt Innes.

Deyhle was a four-year starter for the Eagles, scoring three goals (including two this year against Findlay) and tallying 10 assists in his career. He was named GLIAC Freshman of the Year in 2009.

Over made 16 appearances and six starts and on his junior season and stepped into a starting role for the Eagles in 2012. He finished his career with three goals and two assists.

Hrovat transferred to AU from Division I Belmont in 2010 and spent much of his first season for the Eagles on the bench due to injury. He played in four matches in 2011 before stepping into a more substantial role this season as a central defender.

Innes battled with Nolan for minutes for his final three years in an AU uniform, starting five times. He had a clean sheet against Lake Erie in 2010. He spent much of 2012 battling injuries.

At Tiffin (5-9-2, 4-8-1)

Ashland travelled to Tiffin on Sunday needing a win to extend its season.

Mitchell provided the winner in the 38th minute on an assist by Ashley, sending the Eagles through to the GLIAC tournament as the fifth seed.

AU won despite shooting just half as many times as Tiffin (12-6).

Mitchell’s goal came on the Eagles’ only attempt on goal.

Nolan made four saves to keep the clean sheet, his third of the season.

At Northwood (Tournament)

Tuesday’s date with Northwood marked the third match between the Eagles and Timberwolves this season.

The first two included fireworks, and Tuesday’s match did not disappoint.

After Ashley’s seventh minute goal put the Eagles in front, Northwood battled back to send the game into overtime and won it in the 99th minute on a goal by Nate Brockman.

Over assisted on Ashland’s goal, which Ashley slotted home on a breakaway from 14 yards.

Sam Nair pulled the Timberwolves level at the start of the second half when he beat an AU defender down the left side and slotted his shot past Nolan.

Just like the last game at Northwood, the Timberwolves controlled play with a huge shot advantage of 20-8.

NU’s Joey Censoni was sent off with a red card with less than six minutes left in regulation, but the Eagles were not able to take advantage of the extra man.

Instead, Brockman received the ball from Brent just outside the box and blasted home the sudden death winner off of Nolan’s fingertips to end Ashland’s season.

Nolan finished with eight saves.

Ashley’s goal marked his fifth of the year, most by an Ashland player. Senior defender Jamie Dollar finished second with four, but he was dismissed from the team at the beginning of October. Mitchell finished the year with three goals.