LYCOMING MEN’S SOCCER TIES OBERLIN;
WINS KICKOFF CLASSIC

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s soccer team came back from a goal down on two occasions to earn a 2-2 draw with Oberlin College, Saturday afternoon, in the championship game of the Lyco Kickoff Classic. The Warriors were then awarded the tournament title based on goal differential. Lycoming had defeated Gallaudet 6-0 in the opening round, while Oberlin had defeated Neumann 2-0. The Warriors are now 1-0-1 to open the season.

The Yoeman scored the game’s first goal in the 14^th minute when Rich Braithwaite converted a penalty kick after a Lycoming foul in the box. Despite heavy pressure from Lycoming’s offense Oberlin was able to carry the 1-0 lead into the half.

The Warriors finally got on the board in the 48^th minute on a goal by Jason Mathews (Jr./North Wales, PA; Christopher Dock) that knotted the game at 1-1. Oberlin struck back quickly, however, regaining the lead less than three minutes later on Braithwaite’s second goal of the contest. Max Hellerman assisted on the score.

Andrew Rampulla (Fr./Mechanicsburg, PA; Cumberland Valley) then stepped up for Lycoming and scored his first collegiate goal to tie the game at 2-2 in the 60^th minute. Paul Zippel (Fr./Cherry Hill, NJ; Cherry Hill West) tallied the assist. Neither team could score again through the remaining time in regulation and two ten minute overtime periods.

Jason Fesler (So./Carlisle, PA; Cumberland Valley) made six saves in goal for the Warriors.

“Oberlin was a very good team and I’m proud of the way our guys hung in there with them,” said Head Coach Scott Kennell. “Its feels great to win the tournament and get the season started with a pair of solid performances. This is a young team and we still have a long way to go to get where we want to be this year, but this is certainly a positive beginning.”

In the consolation game, Neumann defeated Gallaudet 4-0. On the all-tournament team, Lycoming was represented by Mathews, Zippel, and Chris Mason (Fr./Mechanicsburg, PA; Cumberland Valley) who was dubbed the tournament MVP.

Scoring                 1                2                OT                2OT                Final
Oberlin                   1                1                0                0                2
Lycoming                0                2                0                0                2

Scoring Summary:
OC – Rich Braithwaite; 13:42 (penalty kick)
LC – Jason Mathew; 48:00
OC – Braithwaite (Max Hellerman); 50:32
LC – Andrew Rampulla (Paul Zippel); 59:30

Shots: LC-15, OC-11
Corners: LC-6, OC-4
Saves: LC-6, OC-10