Box Score Radnor, Pa. – The Washington College men's soccer team dropped their first game of the season as they fell in the rain at Cabrini, 2-1, on Sunday afternoon at Edith Robb Dixon Field. The Shoremen fell to 1-1-2 while the Cavaliers picked up their first win of the season to improve to 1-2-2.
How It Happened
-The Shoremen had the first opportunity of the contest when senior forward
Eric Gwadz (Washington, D.C., Woodrow Wilson)collected a loose ball after an initial shot by sophomore defender
Emanuel Kouadio (Gaithersburg, Md., Watkins Mill) at the top of the center of the box. Gwadz, however, pushed a low shot just wide right of the far post with 26:18 left in the opening half.
- Cabrini capitalized on their only scoring chance of the stanza after a turnover at midfield with just over 15 minutes left. Senior forward
Ben Strine (Hockessin, Del., Salesianum School)had the ball poked away by a defender and the ball bounced directly to freshman Tyler Tomlin on the near side of the field. Tomlin then delivered a perfect through ball up the middle of the pitch for junior midfielder Nick Lobiondo, who was breaking free on goal. Washington College goalkeeper
Cole White (Seaford, Del., Sussex Academy) left his position and tried to make a slide tackle but Lobiondo eluded the sophomore and was able to put it into the center of the open net.
- Washington College had two more tremendous scoring chances in the opening half but were unable to finish. Senior midfielder
Harrison Malone (Media, Pa., Episcopal Academy) delivered a perfect free kick into the center of the box with 10:51 left but junior
Max Greenfeld (Gaithersburg, Md., Wootton) volley from point-blank range sailed just above the center of the crossbar. Malone then had his own opportunity with just under a minute left but Cabrini goalkeeper MJ Graham made a terrific play to deny the Shoremen. Junior midfielder
Christopher Pinto (Aberdeen, N.J., Christian Brothers Academy) had set Malone up with a one-on-one opportunity after delivering a great touch pass through the middle of the box.
-Junior forward
Zak Burgess (Media, Pa., Westtown School) had the first opportunity of the second half for the visitors with 24:47 remaining. Gwadz came away with a steal at midfield and hit Burgess with a pass just outside of the box. Burgess ran onto the ball and then eluded a couple of defenders in the box but his left-footed shot from point-blank range was stopped by a diving Graham.
- The Shoremen continued to be unlucky as it looked like they would get the equalizer with 15:12 left. After a feed by Gwadz into the right side of the box, Malone beat Graham with a shot that was headed for the center of the net but defender Jake Scully was in the right spot to clear it at the last second.
-Washington College finally broke through with 12:08 left as Gwadz was taken down in the box by a defender as he tried to maneuver in for a shot. Malone took the penalty kick and beat Graham with a hard shot to the lower left corner of the net.
- Gwadz had another chance in the 80' but Graham (7 saves) made a diving stop to his left along the near post after a shot from inside the left side of the box.
- Just seconds later at the 79:32 mark, the hosts caught the Shoremen on a counter attack that produced the game-winner. Forward Matt Duddy headed the ball up the field for Lobiondo, who was running free along the left sideline. Lobiondo then dribbled around two defenders and fired a shot from the center of the box over the outstretched left hand of White, who tried to make a diving save.
Notes
- The Shoremen outshot the hosts by an 18-4 margin.
- White made one stop in his second consecutive start.
- Malone recorded his 5th career tally and converted his first penalty kick.
- Gwadz paced the team with three shots.
-The Shoremen are now 2-5-2 all-time against the Cavaliers.
Up Next
- The Shoremen will open Centennial Conference play when they travel to Franklin & Marshall on Saturday, September 17 at 6:00 p.m.
