CALIFORNIA (Sept. 5) – Despite a game-tying goal from freshman
Eli Mitchell (Uniontown, Pa./Laurel Highlands) in the second half, the California University of Pennsylvania men's soccer team fell by a 2-1 margin versus West Virginia Wesleyan in the final 10 minutes on Thursday night in the season-opener at the Phillipsburg Soccer Facility.
With the loss, the Vulcans begin the campaign at 0-1 overall after playing the Bobcats in a non-conference, season-opener for a fifth-straight year. Meanwhile, West Virginia Wesleyan starts the season with a 1-0 record after being selected fourth in the preseason Mountain East Conference (MEC) poll.
In the first half, the Vulcans produced the initial chance of the contest after a header from junior transfer
Matt Yingling (Gettysburg, Pa./Gettysburg) sailed over the crossbar in the 10th minute. Cal U continued the pressure with three corner kicks in the span of just over four minutes, but were unable to find the net. The Bobcats responded at the 20:48-mark when a shot from junior Joshua Tenney hit the post off a free kick into the box. Both teams exchanged possession over the next 15 minutes before West Virginia Wesleyan fired three shots on goal. Senior goalkeeper
Joseph Valeriano (Southampton, N.J./Seneca) saved a pair of shots off a rebound in front of the net before sophomore
Kwesi Abban (Fredericksburg, Va./Chancellor) cleared a ball off the goal line to keep the game scoreless. The contest went into the halftime tied with the Bobcats holding a 6-1 shot advantage.
West Virginia Wesleyan remained on the offensive in the second period with an early save made by Valeriano in the 48th minute. The Bobcats would eventually breakthrough at the 67:47-mark on a goal from freshman Timothy Barney with an assist tallied by senior Luca Falconieri, 1-0. In the 77th minute, the Vulcans answered back when Mitchell scored from 30 yards out, his first collegiate goal, to tie the contest, 1-1. Sophomore
Mario Ulizzi (Pittsburgh, Pa./Montour) also tallied his first college assist on the goal. West Virginia Wesleyan countered in the final 10 minutes after a cross into the box from Tenney found sophomore Javier De Ona Garcia, who buried the ball into the top right-corner of the net, 2-1. The Vulcans were able to create one last scoring chance, but the shot was ultimately saved and sealed the victory for the Bobcats.
Valeriano earned the start in the season-opener and posted three saves on 11 shots faced in 90 minutes of action. It marked just his fifth career start at goalkeeper.
West Virginia Wesleyan held an 11-5 shot advantage, while Cal U had a 3-1 edge in corner kicks.
The Vulcan return to action on Saturday, Sept. 7, when they travel to face Cedarville (Ohio) in non-conference action with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
