Phoenix Edge Lions in Men’s Soccer’s Home Opener
ALTOONA, Pa. – The Penn State Altoona men's soccer team had its home opener spoiled by visiting Wilson College on Saturday night, when the Phoenix used a second-half goal to hand the Lions a 1-0 loss at Spring Run Stadium.
Wilson (3-5) scored the game's lone goal in the 78th minute and limited Penn State Altoona (1-4) to three shots on goal while stifling several scoring opportunities by the Lions.
Sasha Mohoruk (Altoona, PA/Altoona) got the nod at goalkeeper for Penn State Altoona, making his fifth start of the season and recording 10 saves for the Lions.
Matias Harte (Knoxville, TN/State College) and Bailey Musselman (Altoona, PA/Altoona) each had a team-high three shot attempts for Penn State Altoona, while Niko Ferrales (Ho-Ho-Kus, NJ/Northern Highlands Regional), Giovanny Furbino (Kearny, NJ/Kearny), and Owen Myers (Spring Grove, PA/Spring Grove) had one shot on goal apiece.
Both teams traded early scoring chances in the first half, during which Wilson held a slim 8-6 advantage in shots. Penn State Altoona came up emptyhanded on an opportunity in the fourth minute, when a close-range shot by Furbino was denied by a Wilson defender blocking the shot in the open net. Mohoruk made two saves over the rest of the half, and a late shot on goal from Myers was stopped by the Wilson keeper.
Wilson came out strong in the second half, putting eight shots on goal in the early stages of the period, all of which were saved by Mohoruk. But the dam broke at 77:57, when Bryson Curtis' centering pass in the box found Brian Mulholland, who headed a shot into the left side of the goal to give the Phoenix a 1-0 lead.
Penn State Altoona earned two corner kicks late in the second half to create some offensive chances, including a shot from Ferrales in the 86th minute that changed direction near the goal and was fought off by the Wilson keeper.
But the Lions were unable to come up with the game-tying tally, and Wilson escaped with a narrow victory.
Wilson finished the game with an 18-15 advantage in shot attempts, including an 11-3 lead in shots on goal. Corner kicks were tied 6-6 between the teams.
Next up, Penn State Altoona men's soccer starts its Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference schedule on the road, as the Lions will travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday, October 1, to take on La Roche University at 4 p.m.
