Presidents Push Past Lions, 3-1
ALTOONA, Pa. – Washington & Jefferson College handed the Penn State Altoona men's soccer team a 3-1 loss on Saturday afternoon at Spring Run Stadium.
The Presidents (3-3) got two first half goals from Zach Bowser to establish a 2-0 lead at the intermission, and Nolan Agostoni's score early in the second half gave the visitors a 3-0 advantage.
Garrett Giedroc (Howard, PA/Bald Eagle) scored his first collegiate goal for Penn State Altoona (2-3) in the closing minutes of the game. Alexander Ferry (Warren, PA/Warren) made six saves for the Lions in his fourth start at goalkeeper this season.
W&J drew first blood at 20:57, when Bowser's penalty shot goal put the Presidents on the board.
W&J doubled its lead late in the half, courtesy of another tally from Bowser. Connor Lanigan sent the ball in front of the goal from long distance, and Bowser was there to head it past the keeper at 41:38 to make it 2-0.
The visitors tacked one more on to their total early in the second half. Ethan Bowser launched a long pass up the middle of the field, where it was collected by Agostini. Agostini dribbled in to the box and scored from 12 yards at the 47:20 mark to boost the W&J advantage to 3-0.
Giedroc cut into Penn State Altoona's deficit late in the period. Sebastian Tem (Panama City, Panama/Balboa Academy) dribbled near the left corner of the W&J end and fired a pass to the top of the box, where Giedroc took it and ripped a shot into the bottom left corner of the goal at 86:35 to put the Lions on the board.
The goal was Giedroc's first as a Lion, and Tem's assist was the first point of his collegiate career.
But W&J held its two-goal lead through the game's closing minutes to clinch the win.
W&J held a 12-8 advantage over Penn State Altoona in shot attempts, including a 9-3 lead in shots on goal. Corner kicks were tied at 6-6.
Grady Ballard (State College, PA/State College) and Cameron McCarthy (Bloomsburg, PA/Bloomsburg) attempted two shots apiece, with Ballard, McCarthy, and Giedroc combining to account for Penn State Altoona's three shots on goal.
Penn State Altoona men's soccer will remain at home for its next game, when the Lions will take on non-conference opponent Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham next Saturday, September 24 at 2:00 p.m.
