CALIFORNIA (Sept. 25) – Behind five different goal scorers and three assists from junior transfer Matt Yingling (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg), the Vulcans secured a 5-1 victory over Daemen (N.Y.) on Wednesday evening in non-conference play at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.
 
With the win, the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team improves to 1-3 this season after facing four teams from three different conferences. It marks the first time that the Vulcans have scored five goals in a match since accomplishing the feat twice in the 2016 campaign. Meanwhile, the Wildcats drop to 0-6 overall after being selected eighth in the preseason East Coast Conference (ECC) poll and featuring a first-year head coach.
 
The three assists posted by Yingling are the most in a single game in recent program history, dating back to the 2003 season.
 
In the first half, the Vulcans tallied four corners kicks and controlled possession offensively in the opening 10 minutes of the match. Cal U fired three shots over the next nearly 12 minutes and saw a pair of attempts saved by the Wildcat goalkeeper. Freshman Eli Mitchell (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) scored the initial goal of the contest, his second of the season, after it deflected off the hands of the goalie into the back of the net in the 33rd minute, 1-0. Classmate Jake Nebinski (Ardara, Pa./Norwin) collected his first collegiate assist on the goal. Senior goalkeeper Joseph Valeriano (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) was quickly called into action following the goal and made back-to-back saves to keep Cal U in the lead. At the 36:14-mark, the Vulcans added to the lead with a goal from Nebinski into the top right-corner of the net, his first college goal, with an assist from sophomore Negus Johnson (Harrisburg, Pa./Susquehanna Township). Cal U would take a 2-0 lead at the break, while holding a 7-4 shot advantage.
 
Junior Jacob Schwien (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) extended the lead to 3-0 on a goal off the crossbar in the 49th minute with an assist on the corner kick by Yingling. The Wildcats cut into the lead just over four minutes later on a goal by Alex Christidis following a cross from Eman Wajed at the 52:39-mark. Daemen would continue to pressure offensively, tallying three corners and two shots at the midway point of the second half. Freshman Evan Blunkosky (McDonald, Pa./West Allegheny) got on the scoresheet with a header into the bottom left-corner off another corner kick from Yingling in the 69th minute, 4-1. Just under four minutes later, the Vulcans added the final insurance goal by freshman Michael McAnalley (East McKeesport, Pa./East Allegheny) into the top of the net with a third assist collected by Yingling.
 
Valeriano claimed the win after collecting four saves on nine total shots in 90 minutes of action.
 
The Vulcans finished the contest with a 15-9 edge in shots, including an 8-5 advantage in shots on goal, and also held a 7-6 lead in corner kicks.
 
Cal U opens Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West play on Saturday, Sept. 28, when it hosts Pitt-Johnstown at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility, starting at 2:30 p.m.