CALIFORNIA (Sept. 22) – The Vulcans were shutout 3-0 in a loss against East Stroudsburg on Friday night in their opening game of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) action.
 
With the loss, the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team fall to 0-5-0 on the season, while starting with a 0-1-0 record in the league. Meanwhile, the Warriors move to 3-1-1 overall and pick up their first conference win of the year to improve to 1-1-0. 
 
Both teams set a physical presence in the first half, as neither team recorded a shot in the opening 15 minutes of the match. Cal U had three chances in a 10-minute span saved by the ESU goalie. The best opportunity for the Vulcan came on a throw-in from sophomore Mark Wolf (Lebanon, Pa./Cedar Crest) which was nearly put into the net by freshman Jacob Schwien (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley), who arrived just a moment too late to the ball. The Warriors registered the first marker in the 31st minute when a deflection allowed senior Shaquille Stephenson to score his second goal of the year. Late in the first half, junior Christian Fletcher (Moon Twp., Pa/Moon) saw his free-kick opportunity just go over the crossbar as the Vulcans looked to level the game. Junior goalkeeper Lucas Exner (Horstmar, Germany/Pascal-Gymnasium) came up with an outstanding free-kick save in the 43rd minute to keep the Cal U in the contest. At halftime, both sides were tied at six shots and the Warriors held a 2-1 advantage in corner kicks.
 
Just over a minute into the second half, East Stroudsburg extended its lead to 2-0 off a cross into the box that was put into the top left corner of the goal. The Vulcans struggled to find an opening in the second half, as they were limited to three shots. The Warriors added an insurance goal in the 84th minute when junior Jo Panuccio beat the keeper inside the 18-yard box.
 
Exner registered three saves in the loss while playing all 90 minutes of the game.
 
East Stroudsburg out-shot Cal U by a 13-9 margin, including seven shots in the second half, while both teams recorded four corner kicks in the match.
 
The Vulcans return to PSAC play on Sunday, Sept. 24, when they travel to Dick's Sporting Goods Field in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, to face Seton Hill at 3:30 p.m.