BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - In a critical Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) East match, the Bloomsburg University men's soccer team wasted no time getting on the board with a goal just 28 seconds into action as the Huskies rolled to a 3-1 win over Shepherd University, Wednesday night. With the win, the Huskies improved to 9-5 on the year and 5-4 in PSAC East action, while the Rams dropped to 1-13 for the season and 0-8 in conference action.
The last time these two teams met, they needed 15 extra minutes to decide a victor, but the Huskies had other plans coming into their home game. Senior
Kacper Grycel (Allentown, Pa./Emmaus) needed just 28 seconds for his second goal of the season and the Bloomsburg 1-0 lead. Sophomore
Alex Wilsterman (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) put a short cross into the box for Grycel, who one-timed it inside the far post.
Bloomsburg controlled the pace of play and kept the ball on the Huskies' offensive side of the field. At the 12:19 mark, sophomore
Sammy Ames (Holly Ridge, N.C./Dixon) found the back of the net for the second time this season to give BU an early 2-0 lead. Wilsterman put an initial shot on goal, but his strike ricocheted off of the far post, and Ames was there to collect the rebound with his head and headed home the goal.
After Shepherd's first shot in the eighth minute, the Huskies defense did not allow another for the rest of the first half, and Bloomsburg went into the breakup 2-0.
Senior
Liam Harmon (Bloomsburg, Pa./Bloomsburg Area) pushed the BU lead to 3-0 with his third of the season. Freshman
Anthony Schlee (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) took a shot on goal but, a Rams defender blocked it, and Harmon corralled the loose ball. Harmon then sent a quick rocket home for the 3-0 advantage for BU.
The Rams broke up the shutout as Carlos Castillo grabbed the ball off a BU defender's foot as they were trying to clear it and put a strike inside the far post under a diving
Nathan Slotnick (Yardley, Pa./Pennsbury) to cut the Huskies lead to 3-1 with 31:05 to play in regulation.
The Huskies held a narrow 5-4 advantage in shots in the final 30 minutes of action, but neither team could capitalize on their opportunities, and the Huskies walked away with a 3-1 win.
For the game, the Huskies out-shot the Rams 18-8 but held just a narrow 9-7 advantage in shots in the second half. Bloomsburg led 9-1 in corner kicks as well.
Slotnick started and played the first 56:40 in net for Bloomsburg, while junior Nolan Michael made three saves in the final 33:20 between the pipes for BU. Billy Wood made five saves while allowing all three goals for Shepherd.
On Saturday, the Huskies return to action as they host Lock Haven University for their Senior Night on October 23 at Steph Pettit Stadium. The opening kick-off is slated for 4:30 pm.
