CALIFORNIA (Sept. 28) – The California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team battled to a 1-1 double-overtime draw versus Pitt-Johnstown in the opening match of Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) West action at Phillipsburg Soccer Facility on Saturday afternoon.
With the tie, the Vulcans move to 1-3-1 overall with a 0-0-1 mark in league play after entering the match on a 10-game winning streak against UPJ. Meanwhile, the Mountain Cats stand at 1-4-1 this season behind a 0-0-1 record in conference action after falling in their previous four matches.
The Vulcans controlled possession in the opening 10 minutes of the contest before registering three shots in a five-minute span. Junior
Matt Yingling (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) saw a free kick sail right over the top of the net before freshman
Jake Nebinski (Ardara, Pa./Norwin) rattled a shot directly off the crossbar in the 12th minute, as the game remained scoreless. Cal U continued the offensive pressure and broke through at the 28:56-mark on a goal from senior
Marcos Garcia, Jr. (New Oxford, Pa./New Oxford) from nearly midfield into the top right-corner of the net, 1-0. Junior
Jacob Schwien (Garnet Valley, Pa./Garnet Valley) recorded an assist on the goal that just cleared over the hands of the goalkeeper. The Vulcans would produce two more shots and take the lead into halftime, while holding an 8-2 shot advantage.
In the second half, Cal U recorded two early shots and a pair of corner kicks before the Mountain Cats shifted possession and attacked the Vulcan defense. After a Cal U save, Pitt-Johnstown fired a corner kick into the box and after multiple deflections Alex Kochey buried the ball into the net with an assist from Josh Briscoe to tie the match, 1-1. The Vulcans managed six more shots and two corner kicks down the stretch of the half, but the game was forced into overtime.
The Vulcans tallied three shots in the first overtime period, but were unable to find the back of the net. In the second overtime, both teams had limited chances and the contest ultimately ended in a draw with each team collecting one point in the conference standings.
Senior goalkeeper
Joseph Valeriano (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) recorded two saves on five shots faced in 110 minutes of action.
Cal U out-shot UPJ by a 20-5 margin, including a 6-3 edge in shots on goal, while also holding a 6-2 lead in corner kicks.
The Vulcans close their homestand on Wednesday, Oct. 2, when they face Slippery Rock in PSAC West action with kickoff set for 7:30 p.m.
