BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Bloomsburg men's soccer team handed East Stroudsburg its first defeat of the season with a 3-2 victory at Steph Pettit Stadium Wednesday evening.

In a physical match with critical scoring opportunities for both teams, it was the Huskies who came out on top. Alex Wilsterman (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) led Bloomsburg in its winning effort with his first career multi-goal game. Braden Alicea (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) netted his first career goal with a stunning effort.

Brady Rimple (Cherryville, Pa./Northampton Area) helped keep the Bloomsburg defense in line, with the junior matching a season high with a seven-save effort.

How It Happened: 
The Huskies put the Warriors on their heels early, taking the early initiative and the lead.

Bloomsburg remained consistent with its capabilities from set pieces. After a flurry of touches inside the box, Anthony Schlee (Baltimore, Md./Archbishop Curley) headed the ball and forced a save out of ESU goalkeeper Helgi Hermannsson. Wilsterman found a follow-up header off the ricochet to give the Huskies a 1-0 lead. 

Just under 90 seconds later, Bloomsburg doubled its advantage due to a tremendous solo effort from Alicea. After giving the ball up for a one-two, Alicea dribbled out of a congested box into open space, where the defender fired home a ball off his right foot that traveled over the goalkeeper and into the top left corner.

East Stroudsburg increased its intensity in the offensive and defensive ends, cycling play in hopes of finding an opening. Despite the Huskies' early lead, the Warriors ended the first half with a 10-4 shot edge. 

The Warriors continued to pressure Bloomsburg in an attempt to get on the scoresheet. The visitors would do so in the 69th minute after a cross from the wing found its mark in ESU's Trevor Paone to make it a 2-1 contest.

Absorbing the pressure, the Huskies sought the right time to counter and were able to capitalize in the 76th minute. After a long throw into the box, the ball was batted around in front of the net. Patrick Walsh (Macungie, Pa./Emmaus) collected the ball for Bloomsburg and took a chance at the net, where the effort deflected off of Wilsterman and into the back of the net for a 3-1 Huskies lead.

Paone doubled his evening tally in the 85th minute to keep East Stroudsburg in striking distance. With the physicality of play escalating in the final five minutes of action, neither side gave an inch, with Bloomsburg able to seal the win.

Walsh and Owen Hollobaugh (State College, Pa./State College) each recorded their first assist of the season in the victory.

On The Horizon:
Bloomsburg is on the road for a PSAC contest against West Chester on Saturday, October 14, at 2:30 p.m.