Strong Scores Game's Only Goal as Shoremen Move on to Semifinals

CHESTERTOWN, Md. — Cole Strong scored the game's only goal in the 56th minute to lift the host Washington College men's soccer team to a 1-0 win over visiting Dickinson in the first round game of the Centennial Conference Tournament tonight on Kibler Field at Roy Kirby, Jr. Stadium. The win for the Shoremen came in their first postseason game in 16 years.

Washington College 1, Dickinson 0 (Centennial Conference Tournament - First Round Game)

How It Happened
- Brian Graham recorded the first shot on goal of the game for the Shoremen, but it was saved by Jeremy Palcan in the 26th minute.
- Dickinson's Danny Sheppard sent a ball just wide to the left of the goal in the 37th.
- The Shoremen had three scoring chances in the last five minutes of the half. The Shoremen had two short shots on goal off a corner kick in the 39th, Griffin Bull nicked the top of the crossbar in the 41st, and Michael Holowesko headed a free kick from Bull to Palcan in the 43rd.
- The Shoremen held a 10-2 advantage in shots in the first half and recorded all four of the half's shots on goal.
- Brendan McGovern registered the Red Devils' first shot on goal of the game just seconds into the second half as Samuels had to leap up and tip the ball over the crossbar for the save.
- The Shoremen got on the board when a booming ball sent by Strong toward the goal hooked high into the right side of the net from 40 yards out at the 55:52 mark. Dimitri Kaliakin picked up the assist on Strong's goal.
- Chris Lewandowski just missed a second goal for the Shoremen in the 60th, heading a point-blank shot off a Bull free kick just high of the crossbar.
- Brian Wilkinson rang a hard shot off the left post for the Shoremen in the 64th.
- David Voigt had a back-heeled shot ssaved by Samuels in the 72nd, followed by Palcan making a save on a Kevin Sawyer shot on the other end.
- Lewandowski had a chance to double the lead in the 82nd on a penalty kick, but it was saved by a diving save by Palcan to the keeper's left.
- Samuels made a save on a short shot by A.J. Miele in the 85th minute. Dickinson's final chance to level the score came in the 90th minute when McGovern headed a ball into the arms of Samuels at the near post. 

For the Shoremen (10-6-2)
- Scorers: Strong (1 goal), Kaliakin (1 assist)
- Goalkeeper: Samuels (4 saves, 0 goals allowed, 90:00)
- The Shoremen had 20 shots, seven of them on goal, and three corner kicks in the game.

For Dickinson (8-8-2)
- Scorers: none
- Goalkeeper: Palcan (5 saves, 1 goal allowed, 90:00)
- The Red Devils finished with 11 shots, four of them on goal, and two corner kicks.

Notes
- The attendance for the game was 692, making it the most-attended first-round game in the history of the Centennial Conference Men's Soccer Tournament.
- Kaliakin's assist was his 12th of the season, moving him to within one of the single-season school record of 13 set by Mark Sinkinson in 1971. It was also the 32nd of his career, adding to his school career record.
- The Shoremen's victory was their seventh in a row at home this season after starting the year 0-3 at home. It also gave them 10 or more wins in a season for the first time since 2000.
- 2000 also marked the Shoremen's last postseason appearance. They were eliminated from the ECAC Mid-Atlantic Tournament by Gettysburg in the semifinals after playing to a scoreless tie with the Bullets. They had defeated Wilkes in the first round of that tournament, on November 8th, 2000, by a 2-1 final. The Centennial Conference began its championship tournament the following season.
- The shutout was the Shoremen's first against a Centennial Conference opponent this season. They went 5-2-2 in the regular season conference schedule without a single shutout win or tie.

Up Next for the Shoremen
11/5 @ #17 Haverford - 11:00 a.m. (Centennial Conference Semifinal)