BLOOMSBURG, Pa. - The Bloomsburg men's soccer team picked up its first conference victory of the season with a 2-0 win over West Chester on Wednesday evening.

Two first-half goals gave the Huskies (4-0-3, 1-0-1 PSAC East) exactly what it needed in the game against the Golden Rams (4-3-1, 1-1 PSAC East). Jake Pacacha (Shelton, Conn./St. Joseph) took advantage of a mistake from West Chester in the 24th minute to net the opener. Caleb Sitler (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) doubled Bloosmburg's advantage for good, getting a great through ball off hold-up play by Kody Besser (Lacey Township, N.J./Lacey Township) to keep the momentum in the Huskies' favor.

How It Happened:
The game began with both teams looking to get their heads in the game. From a throw-in, the Golden Rams recorded the first shot minutes into the contest with a header that went right of the post. Bloomsburg's first shot mirrored its opponent, as Besser got a nod from a corner that was wide of the target.

West Chester had the first on-target attempt of the evening, looking to catch the Huskies' defense and goalkeeper Peter Punchello (Jamison, Pa./William Penn Charter) off guard. Looking again to attack from a throw, the Golden Rams played the short game to Owen Slack. The forward took a couple of steps before squaring an attempt toward the bottom left corner. The shot was stopped by Punchello, with the situation nervy for an instant after the ball spilled out before the sophomore could sprawl on top. 

When a golden opportunity befell Bloomsburg in the attacking third, it was Pacacha who answered the call. West Chester intended to restart play quickly from a goal kick, with goalkeeper Jaden Howard passing the ball short to one of his defenders. The Golden Rams, while hoping to fend off the Husky attack, were also forced to battle the sun in the fading hours of the day. Initially fending off the glare while bringing the ball up, the defender looked to supply a central pass, a move intercepted by a pressing Pacacha. The forward took his chances on his own, splitting the five-hole and securing Bloomsburg the lead. 

Desperate to cut into the lead, West Chester had near chances to equalize in the 10 minutes to follow. A half-volley off a second ball to Peter Tichy rocketed off the forward's foot, but was blocked by a sea of defenders. Slack turned to acrobatics for a shot attempt that, despite going where intended, took an awkward bounce off a Husky and forced Punchello to make a diving effort to secure the ball. The final chance in the stretch came from a free kick about 30 yards away that whisped just over the bar on a direct shot.

The missed opportunities for West Chester turned into a gift for Bloomsburg, as the Huskies took advantage to double their lead. From a free kick, Braden Alicea (Huntingdon Valley, Pa./Lower Moreland) sent in a ball that eventually was trapped by Sam Blumberger (Colchester, Conn./Bacon Academy). The forward's pass initially missed Besser at the edge of the 18-yard box, but an awkward touch from a Golden Ram gave the senior a second chance. Besser showed some nifty footwork, getting around one West Chester player before letting the ball fall perfectly into the path of an unmarked Sitler, firing the ball across the face of the goal to make it 2-0. 

Both sides nearly found the back of the net in the three minutes following the second goal. Bloomsburg almost had a 3-0 lead entering the break. Zach Morales (Orefield, Pa./Parkland) played a perfectly way ball over the top of the Golden Rams' defense to give Logan Savage (Bensalem, Pa./Archbishop Wood) a one-on-one chance with the goalkeeper, as Savage's momentum carried him too far away on the attempt. On the opposite end, Luke Newman for West Chester hit a well-struck ball in the vicinity of the near post that forced Punchello to kick the ball out of play. 

The Huskies remained in control for the second half, continuing to create opportunities going forward while remaining stout defensively. Owen Peri (Dallastown, Pa./Dallastown) almost found a goal moments into the second half after his poke was corralled by Howard in the net. Later in the half, Pacacha went on a confident run, with his shot on goal sailing slightly higher than intended. No matter the bodies the Golden Rams sent forward, Bloomsburg firmly held its shape to hold on to the win and the shutout.

On the Horizon:
The Huskies take the road on Wednesday, October 8, for a 4:30 p.m. contest against Shippensburg.