Men's Soccer Loses in First Round of USCAA Tournament

By: Matylda Zamudio

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va.— The Penn State Beaver men's soccer team fell 3-1 against Johnson & Wales University, Charlotte in the first match of the USCAA Division II Soccer National Championship tournament on Friday night.

The teams played each other tough from the start. Freshman Mishael Garcia (Los Angeles/Alexander Hamilton) tried to strike first for Beaver as he fired a goal at the net, but it was saved by Johnson & Wales' goaltender at the 11-minute mark. Four minutes later, Johnson & Wales (NC) made its way to the Lions' box, but freshman Julian Hauff (Frederick/Governor Thomas Johnson) thwarted the shot with a save at the net. At the 19-minute mark, sophomore Danylo Yakymov (Kiev/Grand Private Lyceum) tried to put a goal on the board as he fired the ball at Johnson & Wales (NC)'s net, but it was once again saved. As the first period continued, Johnson & Wales (NC) landed on the board first, netting a goal at the 38th minute. Beaver trailed 1-0 at halftime.

The game went scoreless for the first 34 minutes in the second period until Johnson & Wales (NC) netted a second goal to bring Beaver's deficit to 2-0. Then, with less than 10 minutes left on the clock, Yakymov netted a late-game goal to put Beaver back in the game (2-1). However, Johnson & Wales (NC) answered back and netted a goal two minutes later, and the Lions ultimately fell 3-1.

Inside the box:

Yakymov led the offense, netting one goal on three shots with two on goal. Sophomore Williams Cruz (Springfield/Robert E. Lee) finished with three shots, and Garcia finished with one shot and one SOG.

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

Beaver outshot Johnson & Wales (NC) on corner kicks, 10-8.

The Lions are now 13-5 overall record for the season.

But the Lions' season isn't over yet, as the team will face off against Berkeley College (NJ) in the USCAA Division II Soccer National Championship tournament this Sunday, Nov. 10 at 2:15 p.m.