WARRIOR MEN’S SOCCER OPENS SEASON WITH SHUTOUT

WILLIAMSPORT, PA – The Lycoming College men’s soccer team got their season off to a great start on Saturday afternoon with a 6-0 victory over Gallaudet University in opening round play of the Lyco Kickoff Classic. The Warriors jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the first half and then turned the game into a rout with four more tallies in the second period.

Freshman Paul Zippel (Cherry Hill, NJ; Cherry Hill West) got Lycoming on the board in the 22^nd minute with his first collegiate goal. Jason Mathews (Jr./North Wales, PA; Christopher Dock) assisted on the play. Andrew Weber (Fr./Ambler, PA; Upper Dublin) added the team’s second score in the 40^th minute off an assist by Zippel.

In the second half the Warriors pulled away early, scoring two goals in a span of less than three minutes. Joe Balduino (Jr./Washington, NJ; Warren Hill Reg.) recorded the first of the pair in the 53^rd minute and Mathews followed with his first goal of the season in the 55^th minute. Freshman Jeff Kocher (Churchville, MD; C. Milton Wright) assisted on the play. Mathews then added another goal in the 67^th minute off an assist by Balduino to put Lycoming ahead 5-0. Kocher tallied the final score of the game with just under 12 minutes to play off an assist by Pete Gibb (So./Kendall Park, NJ; S. Brunswick).

Jason Fesler (So./Carlisle, PA; Cumberland Valley) and Will Anthony (So./Schuylkill Haven, PA; Nativity) combined for the shutout in goal. Fesler worked 69 minutes, making three saves. Anthony was between the pipes for the final 21 minutes, stopping one shot.

“We’re happy to start off on a positive note and get into the championship game of our own tournament,” said Head Coach Scott Kennell. “The guys did some things well today, but we’re still very young and it showed a little bit. We still have a lot of things to improve on, but this was a great way to start.”

The Warriors will face Oberlin College in the title match of the Lyco Kickoff Classic on Sunday afternoon. Oberlin defeated Neumann College 2-0 in the second game on Saturday. The championship game is scheduled to start at 1:30 p.m., following the consolation game at 11 a.m.

Scoring                 1                2                Final
Gallaudet                0                0                0
Lycoming                2                4                6

Scoring Summary:
LC – Paul Zippel (Jason Mathews); 21:10
LC – Andrew Weber (Zippel); 39:53
LC – Joe Balduino; 52:25
LC – Mathews (Jeff Kocher); 55:00
LC – Mathews (Balduino); 66:30
LC – Kocher (Pete Gibb); 78:04

Shots: LC-16, GU-4
Corners: LC-10, GU-4
Saves: LC-4, GU-10