CALIFORNIA (Sept. 29) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team suffered a 2-1 double-overtime loss on Saturday afternoon on Alumni Day in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) play at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.
With the loss, the Vulcans fall to 1-4-3 this season with a 0-4 mark in league action, while playing in their fourth overtime match this year. Cal U recognized the 2008 PSAC Championship team during halftime of the match led by former longtime head coach Dennis Laskey. Meanwhile, the Marauders improve to 4-2-4 overall behind a 2-1-1 record in conference play.
Cal U tallied the first shot of the contest on a free kick from freshmen
Paul Young, Jr. (Kingston, Jamaica/St. George's), which was saved by the Millersville goalie. The Marauders responded with several scoring opportunities and senior goalkeeper
Lucas Exner (Horstmar, Germany/Pascal-Gymnasium) managed to tally three saves over a nine-minute span. Millersville opened the scoring in the 30th minute with a goal off a deflection from freshmen Spencer Shortt with an assist recorded by senior Jaxson Burns and junior Jacob Gosselin to take a 1-0 lead. Few chances were produced in the closing minutes off the first half, while three yellow cards were distributed in just over a minute. The Marauders took a 1-0 advantage into halftime and held a 7-3 shot advantage.
After stopping an early Millersville attack, Cal U got on the scoreboard on a header from senior
Eric Campbell (Erie, Pa./Harbor Creek), his second of the year, with an assist by redshirt freshmen
Conner Griest (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville), who got the ball in play on a throw in, to tie the match at 1-1. Exner faced 10 shots in the second half and registered four saves, while the Vulcans offense struggled to establish scoring chances. The game went into overtime after a corner kick from Young was cleared by the Marauder defense.
In the overtime, both teams only recorded one shot in the first period before in the 103rd minute of the second period Millersville scored the game-winner on a shot by Burns into the right side of the net with an assist from Gosselin.
Exner eclipsed the 250-save milestone on Saturday with a double-digit save performance in his 48th career start. He recorded a season-high 10 saves on 19 shots faced in over 102 minutes of action.
The Marauders held a 19-9 advantage on shots, including a 12-3 margin in shots on goal, and recorded a 10-2 edge in corner kicks.
Cal U returns to action on Wednesday, Oct. 3, when it hosts Mercyhurst at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility, starting at 5 p.m.
