• Box Score

PHILIPPI, W.Va. (Aug. 27) – In a season-opening contest between the defending Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) and West Virginia Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (WVIAC) champions, the Vulcans rallied to win 5-3 over Alderson-Broaddus behind four second-half goals.

Senior Justin Taucher (Pittsburgh, Pa./Chartiers Valley) led the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team with two goals, while classmate Mike Luecke (Harleysville, Pa./Souderton) added one goal and a pair of assists.

Alderson-Broaddus took a 2-1 lead in the first half behind two goals by Chris Doran. The lone Cal U goal in the first half came on a tally by freshman Nemanja Visekruna (Hamilton, Ontario/St. Thomas More) off an assist from sophomore Carter Fox (Ellwood City, Pa./Riverside).

In the first minute of the second half, the Battlers increased their lead to 3-1. The Vulcans then trimmed the deficit to 3-2 on a goal by Taucher in the 53rd minute before junior Felipe Souza (Sao Paulo, Brazil/Coleaio Objetivo) tallied the game-tying goal less than three minutes later on assists from junior Spencer Crider (Orrstown, Pa./Chambersburg) and Luecke.

Luecke gave Cal U its first lead of the game at the 70:17-mark when he scored his 40th career goal. Taucher added an insurance goal in the 74th minute off an assist from Souza.

Junior Charlie Dagnal (Carnegie, Pa./Carlynton) earned the win in net for the Vulcans after making one save in 35 minutes of action off the bench. Classmate Derek Yobbi (South Park, Pa./South Park) played the entire first half and collected three saves on nine shots.

The Vulcans finished the game with a 23-11 advantage in shots, while the Battlers held a slim 6-5 edge in corner kicks.

Cal U returns to action on Saturday, Aug. 29, when it hosts Ohio Valley (W.Va.) at Roadman Park for a 2 p.m. start.