Cresson, Pa. -- The Mount Aloysius men's soccer team defeated the visiting La Roche University this Wednesday, Oct. 9, while the women tied the Redhawks at their home field in Pittsburgh.
Men's Game
The Mounties took control of Wednesday's game from kickoff, keeping the ball inside their opponent's half for nearly all of the forty-five first half minutes. Despite a lopsided time of possession and multiple looks at the goal, it would take the Mounties twenty minutes and eight shots to finally convert their first goal, with senior
Louis Bez (Bordeaux, France, Lycée Sainte-Marie de la Bastide) following up on a deflected ball to give the hosts a 1-0 lead. Although the Mounties would close the half with a few more opportunities, the hosts found themselves continually caught offside, slowing down their offensive output. La Roche would earn one shot on goal in the half, but it would be harmlessly scooped up by goalkeeper
Sam Denchfield (Truro, England, Loughborough College) to keep the Redhawks down 0-1 going into halftime.
Starting the second half just as aggressive as the first, the Mounties were stymied by three straight offside calls on long balls, until a Bez corner kick in the 64th minute would be tapped in by defender
Martin Donner (Stockholm, Sweden, Danderyds Gymnasium Studievagl), putting the Mounties up 2-0. Two minutes later, the Redhawks' offside trap would break down, as sophomore
Tanner Polcyn (Watsontown, Pa., Warrior Run) would send a long ball to junior
Gonzalo Terricabris (Catalonia, Spain, Garbi Pere Verges) past the La Roche back line, with Terricabris beating the goalie to put his team up three. Although further Mountie efforts would be limited due to more offside calls, the hosts would hold out defensively, finishing the game in a 3-0 win for Mount Aloysius. The Mounties improve to 7-4-1, with a 3-1 conference record.
Women's Game
In what would become a remarkably even game across the box score, the contest would open with the Mounties in the driver seat, with the visitors earning the first four shots on goal. Despite the early looks, it would be La Roche who would draw first blood, putting on in after 25 minutes of play to take a 1-0 lead. Although the Mounties would earn two more shot attempts in the half, difficulties with keeping shots on goal would prevent the equalizer. As the Mounties struggled with accuracy, the Redhawks tested freshman goalkeeper
McKenna Meadows (Lewisburg, PA, Lewisburg), putting one off the crossbar and forcing two saves as the half progressed. Despite the hosts' momentum from the goal, the Mounties would hold on, going in to halftime down one.
The Mounties came in to the second focused and ready, with junior
Natalie Despot (Hollidaysburg, Pa., Hollidaysburg) scoring off the
Sara Borlie (Kennett Square, Pa., Unionville) assist to level the game at 1-all. Playing with more offensive confidence after the goal, the Mounties would find another opportunity ten minutes later, with senior
Sarah Swingler (Hanover, PA, Delone Catholic) giving the Mounties their first lead of the game in the 63rd minute. Holding on to their lead despite several strong La Roche attempts, the Mountie back line would falter in the final as the game came to a close, letting one in to even the game at 2-all in the 87th minute. A final-minute attempt from the Redhawks would be saved by Meadows, ending the back-and-forth contest tied at 2-all. The Mounties sit at 3-7-2 overall, holding a conference record of 2-1-1 in the AMCC.
Up Next
The Mounties host a doubleheader this Saturday, Oct. 12, against Penn State Behrend. Behrend's men's team enters the contest 5-6-1 overall and 3-0 in AMCC play, coming off a 5-0 win over Pitt-Bradford. Behrend's women's program enters the game 10-2 on the season and 3-0 in conference play, coming off a 10-0 victory over the Panthers.
