ERIE, Pa. (Oct. 9) – The Vulcans scored once in each half and played to a 2-2 double-overtime draw at preseason-favorite Mercyhurst on Wednesday afternoon in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the tie, the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team moves to 2-4-2 overall behind a 1-1-2 record in divisional action. The Vulcans snapped a three-game losing streak against the Lakers after previously playing to a 2-2 draw in 2015. Meanwhile, Mercyhurst stands a 4-2-2 overall and remains undefeated in conference play with a 2-0-1 record. The matched marked the first game on the new synthetic turf surface at Mercyhurst Soccer Field.
Senior goalkeeper
Joseph Valeriano (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) secured a save in the opening minute of the contest on an early attack from the Mercyhurst offense. The Lakers would continue to apply offensive pressure and took a 1-0 lead at the 8:53-mark on a goal from Conner Wilkinson into the bottom right-corner of the net with an assist by Hady Sarr. After a foul outside the 18-yard box, sophomore
Abdulla Nuredini (Collegeville, Pa./Spring Ford) scored on a free kick into the right corner of the net, his first collegiate goal, to tie the contest at 1-1 in the 13th minute. Mercyhurst looked to answer following the goal, but saw three attempts sail over the crossbar in nearly a five-minute span. In the 31st minute, Valeriano tallied a pair of saves in just over a minute stretch to keep the game tied. Nuredini registered the final shot of the first half in the closing minute on a free kick, which was saved by the Laker goalie. Mercyhurst held a 10-2 shot advantage at halftime and a 2-1 edge in corner kicks.
The Vulcans would establish a 2-1 lead at the start of the second half after freshman
Eli Mitchell (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) scored a goal off a rebound at the 47:34-mark after an initial save by the goalkeeper. Mitchell now has a team-leading six points and three goals this season. Just over 12 minutes later, Mercyhurst countered with its own rebound goal in the 60th minute scored by Henri Tophoven, who led the team with 22 points on eight goals and six assists in 2018. The Vulcans were limited to one chance for the remainder of the second half, while the Lakers totaled three shots and four corner kicks. The match was forced into overtime with the score tied at 2-2.
Mercyhurst controlled possession in both overtime periods and tallied a combined five shots, which required three saves from Valeriano. Cal U was held without a shot in overtime, as the contest concluded in a 2-2 draw.
Valeriano tied a career high with nine saves, including four stops in the first half, on a season-high 20 shots faced in 90 minutes of play.
The Lakers out-shot the Vulcans by a 20-5 margin, including an 11-5 edge in shots on goals, while also posting a 10-3 advantage on corner kicks.
The Vulcans continue PSAC West play on Saturday, Oct. 12, when they travel to face Seton Hill in nearby Greensburg, Pennsylvania, at 12 p.m.
