After a season-opening loss to Ithaca College, the Elizabethtown College men’s soccer team not only bounced back with a win at home, but dominated Penn State Berks in the process.
Led by sophomore Jason Stark’s two goals and senior Pedro Miranda in goal, the Jays were able to reach a high momentum that didn’t falter once. Sophomore Caba Alvarez scored the first goal of the game just three minutes in with junior Dan Dein on the assist, starting a rally of shots Etown would make against Penn State Berks’ Nittany Lions.
Head Coach Evan Scheffey believes preseason fitness helped achieve this shutout. “Our guys came in extremely fit this preseason and that has positively impacted us in many ways,” Scheffey said. “I think a core strength so far has been our defensive pressing, and our fitness level has allowed us to do that well so far.”
In the 14th minute of the game, a collision in the box allowed Etown a penalty kick scored by senior Gui Yamamoto. Towards the end of the first half, Stark would score his first goal with the assist from first-year Colin Norton.
Sophomore Will Withall sees the control the Blue Jays made on the field as a confidence booster for the squad. “We made a lot of chances, our offense was good, and it was a major confidence booster,” Withall said. “However, we made passing and shifting mistakes that we need to minimize as we go throughout this year.”
In the second half, Stark and Withall worked together to score the final goals needed for the shutout victory, both occurring in the final five minutes of the game. This would be Withall’s first collegiate goal for the Blue Jays, helping to close out a victorious night.
Following the second game of the season, the Etown men’s soccer team has a lot to look forward to and work towards. “Our goal and expectation for every game is to compete at our highest level and learn what it takes to win close games,” Sheffey said.
With approximately 80% of the roster being underclassmen, they have the ability to rely on one another to get better both on and off the field.
“The team is young, but we all put in as much as we can for each other when we get on the field,” said Withall. “We don’t let our mistakes stop us from making it up on the next play. When we lose it, we wing it back as fast as possible. That’s the mentality Coach has put upon us.”
Throughout the season, the team will have a total of nine Landmark Conference games. In 2024, the men’s team was able to make it to the semifinals of the conference championship, losing to Catholic University 1-2. Scheffey has the same expectations for this season’s team.
“Our priority once we get into conference play is to earn one of the top six spots to get ourselves into the post-season and then it’s a one game season at that point, but we do expect to compete to be a top four playoff team,” Scheffey said.
Withall believes this team will take the conference by storm. “While we may be young, our ceiling is extremely high and this group of hard working guys is truly going to give what we have to give.”
The Blue Jays will have their first conference game at Wilkes University on Sept. 27 at 3:30 p.m.
