Sept. 25, in Baltimore, Md.,the Elizabethtown College men’s soccer team faced off against Goucher College. During the game, four different players scored as the Blue Jays opened Landmark Conference play with a 4-2 win over Goucher.
With the win, the Blue Jays record changes to five wins, one loss and one tie, while the Goucher Gophers fall to 3-5-1.
During the game, three players had major firsts. Senior Dylan Hairfield, junior Tyler Wagner and first-year Pedro Guizardi all scored the first goal of their soccer careers.
Junior Ryan Hepler also shot at the goal, and scored, changing the score of the game from 3-0 to 4-0. Senior Massimo Mazzella achieved his second assist of the year. Meanwhile junior Mehlucko Letsoalo and first-year Luke Kelly each added an assist of their own.
Hepler wasted little time finding his fourth goal of the season, giving the Blue Jays the early 1-0 advantage in the 11th minute of the game.
After that, Goucher tied the score at one. Hairfield retaliated and took the lead right back in the 35th minute, making the score 2-1. Kelly received a pass and immediately found space down the right side of the field. He then hit a low pass to the outside of the six yard box where Hairfield easily kicked the ball into the back of the net, giving Etown the one goal advantage heading into halftime.
The Blue Jays added to its total score in the 61st minute as Guizardi planted himself in front of the Gophers’ goalkeeper on a corner kick. Letsoalo received the ball, and passed it in a service to the front post where Guizardi headed it to the back post for Etown’s third goal of the game.
Less than 10 minutes later, Wagner found the ball at his feet on the right side of the Goucher penalty box and took it from there, beating two defenders and the goalie off the dribble before booting the ball into the back of the net, giving Etown a 4-1 lead.
The Gophers would manage to score one more goal, but that is as close as they would get as the Blue Jays open Landmark Conference play with a 4-2 win. This is the second consecutive season that Etown has opened League play with a win after topping Susquehanna 3-1 in 2019’s opener.
Junior Kelvin Delcid earned his third win of the season, making five saves on seven shots on goal.
The Blue Jays return home to Ira R. Herr Field on Wednesday, Oct. 6, when they face off against Penn State Berks. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.
