Lions top New Kensington, 6-1

By: Matylda Zamudio

NEW KENSINGTON, Pa.—The Penn State Beaver men's soccer team captured its 10th conference victory of the season against host Penn State New Kensington, 6-1, in Wednesday afternoon's match, where the teams battled for second place in the PSUAC rankings.

The Lions struck first during the first period, as senior Romaine Thompson (Philadelphia/Penn Wood) banked-in a pass by freshman Jake Saldivar (Darlington/Blackhawk) at the 27-minute mark (1 – 0). The game went scoreless for nine minutes until New Kensington answered back with a goal to tie the game at the 36th minute (1-1). The game stayed tied at the half.

The Lions then got back on top 10 minutes into the second period after sophomore Danylo Yakymov (Kiev/Grand Private Lyceum) netted a goal on an assist by senior John Valiga (Ambridge) to reclaim the lead for Beaver at 2 – 1. Five minutes later, Thompson drilled his second goal of the game, assisted by freshman Mishael Garcia (Los Angeles/Alexander Hamilton) and Valiga to build a two-goal lead for Beaver (3-1). The Lions stayed aggressive offensively put up two assisted goals in six minutes—the first of which came from freshman Jake Ross (Munhall/Steel Valley) and the second from Yakymov to put some scoring distance between the Lions and New Kensington at 5-1. Beaver wasn't done yet and with less than a minute to spare on the game clock, freshman Moucharaf Tchatikpi (Manhattan/Manhattan Center for Science & Math) took the feed by Saldivar to give the Lions a 6 – 1 victory for the day.

Thompson led the offense for Beaver, scoring two goals on four shots with four on goal, followed by Yakymov, who also sunk two goals on six shots and two on goal. Tchatikpi scored one goal on one shot, and Ross scored one goal on two shots with two on goal.

At the net, freshman Julian Hauff (Frederick/Governor Thomas Johnson) had two saves against the three SOG he faced.

Beaver outshot New Kensington 21-10.

After today's win, Beaver improves to 10-4 overall and holds the second-place spot (6-1) in the PSUAC conference standings.

The Lions will host Penn State York for Senior day Saturday, Oct. 19, for their first of two back-to-back conference games this weekend. The game starts at 2 p.m.