Big first half carries Devils over Altoona, 4-0
Sports Information Department – 112 Dods Hall
Phone (716) 673-3100 / Fax (716) 673-3136
CONTACT: Jerry Reilly,
Sports Information Director
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Men's soccer
FREDONIA, N.Y. -- It rained heavily -- from the skies and on the ground -- during the first half of Fredonia State's Blue Devil Days Inn Classic meeting with Penn State Altoona.
The Blue Devils (3-1-0) poured in four goals during the first 45 minutes, including the final tally just ahead of the halftime whistle, en route a 4-0 victory.
Coupled with Penn State Behrend's 4-0 win earlier in the day over Wisconsin Lutheran, the Classic will have an actual championship game. The pre-determined format pits the Blue Devils and Behrend for the title 5 p.m. Saturday at University Stadium.
Despite the downpour Friday, the Blue Devils' offense was in full gear, starting with a goal by senior Chris Huber (Horseheads) in the 14th minute. Taking a long cross from sophomore Steve Ahern (Nottingham, U.K./Billborough), Huber slid through the box and one-timed the ball into the net.
The Blue Devils extended the margin to 2-0 on a similar play involving sophomore Peter Dagel (Rochester/Gates Chili) and sophomore Eli Lubberts (Ontario/Wayne), with Dagel one-timing a cross by Lubberts in the 31st minute. Dagel set up the third Blue Devil goal with a corner kick to sophomore Matt Carlson (Pleasant Valley/Arlington) in the 34th minute, while freshman Justin Gmeinweiser (Rochester/Rush-Henrietta) beat the buzzer with a long shot into the upper right corner with :01 left in the first half. Fellow freshman Matthew Mahoney (New City/Clarkstown North) was credited with an assist.
Three goalkeepers combined for the shutout. Junior starter Tom Cavanaugh (Slingerlands/Voorheesville) made five saves in the first 70:20, freshman Bobby McGinnis (Elmira/Elmira Free Academy) had one save in 16:32, and senior Andrew Feldmann (Silver Creek) preserved the whitewash with a diving stop of a penalty kick with 1:10 remaining.
In the earlier game, Behrend's Ahmad Salim had two goals and an assist while goalkeeper Dustin Walker made six saves for the 5-0 shutout of Wisconsin Lutheran.
Wisconsin Lutheran and Penn State Altoona meet at 2:30 p.m. Saturday in the other men's game of the Classic.