AURORA, N.Y. – Ian Lake (Mechanicsburg, Pa.) scored two second half goals as the Penn. St. Harrisburg Nittany Lions defeated the Wells College men’s soccer team 2-0 in North Eastern Athletic Conference (NEAC) action on Saturday afternoon in Aurora. CJ Bayly (Waymart, Pa.) led the Express with six saves in goal. The loss drops the Express to 5-4 (2-1 NEAC), while the Nittany Lions improve to 4-1 (2-0 NEAC).
Both teams played to a scoreless first half, although the Express would easily have the best scoring chance. Pressing the ball into the offensive zone of Harrisburg, senior Delroy Roberts (Kingston, Jamaica) sent a pass underneath the Nittany Lions defense leaving Trevor Fahey (Woodland, N.J.) all alone with charging goalie Charles Hyson (Bel Air, Md.). Fahey’s first shot would be blocked by Hyson directly back to Fahey, who sent his second shot over the cross bar as the game remained scoreless.
Fahey opened the second half with a similar scoring chance. Rushing after a ball that had been dropped in behind the Nittany Lions defense, Fahey and Hyson collided inside the box and the ball popped out to Roberts who sent a rocket shot over the net. Moments later, Roberts again had an opportunity on the left side but his shot would head wide of the post as the Nittany Lions survived the early Wells flurry.
Despite the continued pressure from Wells it would be the Nittany Lions who struck first in the 49th minute. Battling two Express defenders at the top of the box, Nana Nyentekyi (Howell, N.J.) sent an easy touch pass just feet away to Lake who blasted a shot into the far right netting of the goal — past a diving Bayly — for a 1-0 lead.
Harrisburg extended their lead to two off a corner kick in the 61st minute. The Nittany Lions played the kick to the top right of the box and Caleb Hoppes (Harrisburg, Pa.) crossed the ball over to Lake who found the back of the net, giving his Nittany Lions a 2-0 lead.
Wells had several scoring chances late in the game but the Nittany Lions stood tall, fighting off each Wells attack as they held on for the conference victory.
The Nittany Lions held the advantage in shots on goal (8-2) and corner kicks (6-3). Both teams combined for 18 fouls as each squad played for an early season lead atop the NEAC standings.
The Express return to action tomorrow against Gallaudet University at 1 p.m. in Aurora, while the Nittany Lions travel to take on Keuka College at 1 p.m in Keuka Park, N.Y.
