CALIFORNIA (Sept. 4) – Three different players scored for the Vulcans on Friday night in a 3-2 season-opening, overtime victory against West Virginia Wesleyan in non-conference play at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.
The California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team extended its winning streak in season-openers to eight games, as freshman
Mike Cummings (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) scored the game-winning goal just 26 seconds into overtime. The Vulcans took possession of the opening kick in overtime and Cummings raced past the defenders for the breakaway attempt following a pass from senior
Anthony DiFrancesco (Bogart, Ga./North Oconee).
The game was originally scheduled for last night, but was postponed due to severe lightning. The teams were forced to wait an additional 30-plus minutes on Friday, as the game was delayed immediately following the National Anthem due to lightning.
Following the delay, Cal U jumped out to a 1-0 lead when DiFrancesco scored off a feed from sophomore
Nathan Delgado (Lancaster, Pa./Conestoga Valley) only 50 seconds into the game. However, lightning again forced the teams from the field in the 10th minute and the delay lasted for nearly 70 minutes. The Bobcats tied the score at 1-1 at the 18:55-mark when Jordan Halpern scored on a penalty kick before the Vulcans responded in the 32nd minute when senior
Lubos Kubik (Pardubice, Czech Republic/Roosevelt (Iowa)) converted a penalty kick.
West Virginia Wesleyan again tied the game in the 76th minute when Olajuwon Akintunde scored off a deflection on a cross attempt. The Vulcans nearly reclaimed the lead with less than two minutes left in regulation on a DiFrancesco shot attempt from inside the box.
The teams combined for over 30 shot attempts, as Cal U finished with an 18-14 advantage, while both teams registered three corner kicks. Senior goalkeeper
Aaron Donley (Fredericksburg, Va./Stafford) finished with three saves while making his college debut.
Cal U returns to action on Sunday, Sept. 6, when it travels to face Alderson Broaddus in Philippi, West Virginia, at 2 p.m.
