Saxon Highlights
ERIE, PA – The Alfred University men's soccer team began its 2019 season on the road at the Penn State Behrend Herb Lauffer Memorial Tournament on Saturday afternoon. The Saxons (0-1, 0-0 Empire 8) took on the host team and fell, 6-3 to the Lions in a high-scoring affair.
AU fell behind early with the Lions converting two early goals to give themselves a cushion just 10 minutes in.
Zachary Gloskin (New City, NJ / Clarkstown South) put Alfred on the board at the 15:05 mark of the first half on a direct kick just outside the box, cutting the deficit to just one goal.
Penn State Behrend wasted no time answering with a goal just four minutes later to go up 3-1.
AU was quick to return fire when first-year forward,
Justin Eaton (Williamson, NY / Williamson)converted a penalty kick for his first collegiate goal.
After the scoring madness settled for some time, Eaton scored his second goal of the game at the 42:47 mark in the first half to bring the contest to a 3-3 tie.
A late save from goalkeeper
Jon Nadolne (Port Washington, NY / Schreiber) kept the game knotted at three as the teams went to halftime.
Just 27 seconds into the second half, Penn State Behrend regained its lead with a Richard Blanchard goal.
The Lions converted two more insurance goals in the later portion of the second half and were able to shut down the Alfred offense to secure the 6-3 win.
"Tough loss today at Penn State Behrend," Head Coach
Tracy Blake said. "Unforced errors and defensive mistakes caused our downfall. Before the game we knew it would be a great challenge for us and after being down 3-1 in the first half, we entered the second 3-3, which gave the team the desire to win the second half. A bad mistake less than 30 seconds into the second half and another one 10 minutes later really caused our loss. Injuries to our center backs,
Evan Merkey (Webster, NY / Webster Schreoder) and
Mason Sanborn (Wappingers Falls, NY / Roy C. Ketcham) didn't help us, as well as well as five to six players on the bench being unable to play. We will be ready for the challenge tomorrow whoever we play."
The Saxons will be back in action tomorrow against Chatham University (PA) at 12:30 p.m. as they fell to Baldwin Wallace University, 1-6.
