STORYLINE
The Bloomsburg University men's soccer team will look to snap a three-game skid when it plays in the friendly confines of Steph Pettit Stadium for the first time in 2019 on Saturday afternoon against Shepherd University. The Rams, new to the PSAC, will be playing in the program's first-ever PSAC Eastern Division contest.
ALL-TIME SERIES
This marks the eighth all-time meeting between the two schools with Bloomsburg winning six of the first seven matchups. The Huskies have won four straight against the Rams dating back to Shepherd's only win over Bloomsburg on October 2, 2010. Last season, the Huskies opened the year with a 2-0 win at Shepherd as
Thomas King (West Chester, Pa./B. Reed Henderson) led the way with a goal and an assist.
Matt Goodall (Perry Hall, Md./Perry Hall) also scored in what was
Danny Wheelan's first game as head coach.
SCOUTING BLOOMSBURG
After a season-opening 3-1 victory at Salem on September 6, the Huskies have dropped three straight and enter Saturday's contest with a 1-3 overall record. Bloomsburg is coming off of a heartbreaking 2-1 loss at Shippensburg on Wednesday in the PSAC East opener for both teams.
Bryce Evans (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland) scored his first collegiate goal in the loss as Bloomsburg hit a post on a penalty kick with just over three minutes left for a chance to tie the match. Last year's leading scorer,
Tyler Madeira (Schnecksville, Pa./Parkland), picked up where he left off with a pair of goals in the opening win at Salem. He is tied with
Carter Luckenbaugh (York, Pa./Central York) for the team lead in goals (2) and points (4) on the season. Evans has the only other Bloomsburg goal thus far. In goal,
Nolan Michaels (Independence, Ohio/St. Vincent - St. Mary) has started three of the four matches and is 1-2 with a 1.61 goals against average but just a .375 save percentage as he has allowed five goals on eight shots.
Nathan Slotnick (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) made his first career start at Bloomfield and stopped seven shots while allowing four goals.
SCOUTING SHEPHERD
The Rams enter the contest with a 2-4 overall mark and will be playing the program's first-ever PSAC match on Saturday afternoon. Shepherd started the year with a 2-0 win over Frostburg State and is coming off of a 1-0 victory at Pitt-Johnstown. Those wins are sandwiched around a four-game skid in which the Rams were outscored, 20-3. Carlos Castillo leads the Rams with three goals for six points on the year while Steven Zeballos Choque has a goal and an assist for three points. Ryan Bowman and Tongwa Aka have also scored goals for the Rams. Jose Machado Orellana has started five of the six matches and is 2-3 with a 2.25 goals against average and a .679 save percentage.
UP NEXT
Bloomsburg will be back on the road on Wednesday, September 25, for a contest against the Warriors of East Stroudsburg University beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Huskies return home next Saturday, September 28, to entertain Lock Haven at 3:30 p.m.
