On Saturday, Oct. 16, as everyone was enjoying homecoming weekend, the Elizabethtown College men’s soccer team lost their game against Susquehanna University, with a final score of 3-2, in Landmark Conference action.
With the loss, the Blue Jays record drops to eight wins, four losses and one tie overall.
Junior Ryan Hepler scored his fifth goal of the season early on, while senior Garret Winchilla knocked in his second goal of the year for Etown. Hepler’s finish keeps him leading the team in goals this season. First-years Pedro Guizardi and Cade Brubaker both finished the afternoon with an assist.
The Blue Jays wasted little time getting on the board as Guizardi kicked the ball over the River Hawks’ backline early in the first half. Hepler ran on to the pass and touched it past the charging goalkeeper at the top of Susquehanna penalty box and into the back of the net for the 1-0 lead with just one minute and 20 seconds into the game.
Etown increased its lead to two in the 12th minute as the ball spilled out to Brubaker after junior Mehluko Letsoalo lumped a corner kick into the box. Winchilla pounced on the rebound and rifled the shot into the back of the net for the 2-0 advantage.
Susquehanna found its first goal of the game with 17 minutes and 19 seconds on the clock as a free kick was sent into the goal tender’s box from midfield. The ball was touched around the box before it popped out of the scrum to Dilascio who one-timed it into the back of the net cutting the deficit to one.
The River Hawks took advantage of another free kick to tie the game when junior Sean Kellogg dropped a service into the middle of the Etown penalty box. Junior Kelvin Del Cid came off his line to meet the ball, but Morelli managed to get a touch to it first and tipped over the keeper for the tying goal in the 22nd minute.
With the score tied in the second half, the River Hawks found what proved to be the game-winning goal in the 60th minute. Forcing a turnover at midfield, the River Hawks charged into the attacking defenders. The ball managed to roll to the left side of the Blue Jays’ penalty box, where Paczewski then ripped a shot. Del Cid initially got a touch on the ball, but couldn’t stop the momentum as the ball trickled into the back of the net, completing the comeback for Susquehanna.
Etown continued to press, but was unable to find an equalizer, falling to Susquehanna 3-2.
Del Cid made three saves for Etown.
Etown remains at home in conference play when they host Moravian Universityon Wednesday, Oct. 20. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
