CALIFORNIA (Sept. 24) – In a highly-physical contest, the Vulcans scored the game-winning goal in the 80th minute on Saturday afternoon to earn a 2-1 victory against Bloomsburg in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.

With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team improve to 5-1-1 overall with a 2-1-1 mark in league play. Meanwhile, the Huskies fall to 1-6-1 this season and 0-5-1 in conference play. 

The Vulcans took a 1-0 lead in the 37th minute when sophomore Christian Fletcher (Moon Twp., Pa/Moon) scored from just outside the 18-yard box with assists from classmates Mike Cummings (McDonald, Pa/West Allegheny) and Lucas Exner (Horstmar, Germany/Pascal-Gymnasium). Bloomsburg remained scoreless in the first half despite recording six shots, including two on goal.

The Huskies answered in the 66th minute when freshman Mike Bazadona scored off a long throw-in from classmate Seth Walker to tie the score at 1-1. The Vulcans answered nearly 15 minutes later when sophomore Anthony Papageorgiou (Brooklyn, N.Y./Bethlehem Catholic) scored the game-winning goal, the first goal of his career, off a free kick from Fletcher. 

Exner collected five saves while playing all 90 minutes to earn his 10th career victory. Bloomsburg junior Jacob Pesarcik recorded five saves in the losing effort. 

Cal U and Bloomsburg each recorded 13 shots and seven corner kicks. The two teams combined for 10 yellow cards and one player from each team was ejected with only 1:02 left in the contest.

The Vulcans return to action on Tuesday, Sept. 27, when they travel to face Davis & Elkins in non-conference play at 7 p.m.