JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (Nov. 2) – Freshman
Eli Mitchell (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) scored two goals in the second half on Saturday afternoon, as the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team secured a 2-1 victory at Pitt-Johnstown in Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play.
With the win, the Vulcans improve to 4-6-3 this season behind a 2-3-3 mark in divisional action. Cal U holds a 9-0-1 record against Pitt-Johnstown over the last 10 meetings with the tie occurring earlier this season. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats fall to 2-10-2 overall with a 1-6-1 record in conference play.
In the second half, the Vulcans tied at the match at 1-1 after Mitchell scored into the bottom right-corner, his fifth goal of the season, on an assist from freshman
Jake Nebinski (Ardara, Pa./Norwin) at the 49:29-mark. In the 57th minute, the Mountain Cats made a change at goalkeeper with Sage Parsley entering the contest for Jonathan Reboton. Mitchell then recorded his second goal of the game off a rebound at the 58:13-mark to give Cal U a 2-1 advantage in the second half. Pitt-Johnstown looked to answer just minutes later, but senior goalkeeper
Joseph Valeriano (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) collected a pair of saves. The Vulcans would continue to pressure the net for the remainder of the contest with seven shots and four corner kicks in the final 25 minutes of the match.
Pitt-Johnstown was awarded a penalty kick at the 2:43-mark of the first half before Josh Briscoe saw his attempt saved by Valeriano, but Brady Brown would score off the rebound to take a 1-0 lead. Cal U then controlled possession over the majority of the first half, including three shots and two corner kicks over the span of nearly eight minutes. Valeriano recorded two saves in the final 10 minutes of the half, while Reboton tallied back-to-back saves in the closing minutes to keep Pitt-Johnstown ahead 1-0 at the break.
Valeriano finished with six saves on 11 shots faced in 90 minutes of action. He has tallied at least six saves in five matches this season.
Cal U held a 23-11 shot advantage, including a 12-7 lead in shots on goal, while also finishing with an 11-1 edge in corner kicks.
The Vulcans return to action on Wednesday, Nov. 6, when they host Seton Hill in divisional play at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility with play set for 6 p.m.
