Lions, Titans Play to 1-1 Draw in Men’s Soccer Opener
ALTOONA, Pa. – A 90th-minute goal by Penn State Altoona helped salvage a draw, as the Lions men's soccer team opened its 2023 schedule at home with a 1-1 tie against non-conference opponent Westminster College at Spring Run Stadium.
Vincent Reyes (Valhalla, NY/Valhalla) scored the game-tying goal in the contest's last minute on an assist from Bailey Musselman (Altoona, PA/Altoona), helping Penn State Altoona (0-0-1) avoid a loss in the closing seconds.
Sasha Mohoruk (State College, PA/State College) got the nod at goalkeeper for the Lions and made two saves in the draw.
Westminster (0-0-2) held the Lions in check for much of the game, but Penn State Altoona prevented the Titans from getting on the scoreboard until the latter stages of the second half. The visitors broke through for the game's first goal at 75:34, when Marc Esqueda sent a free kick from the right end line into the box, where Joshua Glaser tapped a shot off of the crossbar and into the net to make it 1-0.
But Penn State Altoona spoiled Westminster's victory hopes, coming up with the tying tally in the closing seconds. Musselman led a rush up the field for the Lions, then distributed a pass to his left in the box. Reyes collected the pass and looped a shot into the top right corner of the goal at 89:05, evening the score at 1-1.
The score remained through the final horn, and the teams settled for a tie.
Penn State Altoona men's soccer hosts another home game this upcoming Wednesday, September 6, with the Lions will welcome non-conference foe Saint Vincent College to campus for a 7 p.m. match.
