(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – The Wilson men's soccer team took on a powerful Penn State Harrisburg squad in United East action on Wednesday afternoon. The Phoenix defense were tested most of the contest and while the goalkeeping duo of
Gerson Navarro (Jr., Manassas Park, Va. / Manassas Park) and
Logan Neves (Jr., Fredericksburg, Va. / Colonial Forge) combined for double-digits in saves, the Nittany Lions took the contest.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 0, Penn State Harrisburg 3
Venue: Kris's Meadow
Records: Wilson 2-7-2, 0-2-0; Penn State Harrisburg 4-6-1, 2-0-0
How It Happened
- Harrisburg wasted little time in getting its high-octane attack in motion with a pair of corner kicks in the opening 80 seconds and kept the pressure on with shots in the 6th and 8th minutes, the first of which was saved by Navarro. The Phoenix attempted to counter a couple of minutes later with Jackson Bennett (Jr., Hagerstown, Md. / North Hagerstown) firing off a shot that went above the crossbar. Unfortunately, the Nittany Lions broke through two minutes afterwards as Liam Gohn was able to flick in a pass from Colin O'Hara.
- Brian Mulholland (Sr., Oracle, Ariz. / Canyon del Oro) provided a pair of chances for the Phoenix in an attempt to equalize. His first attempt went wide left in the 18th minute. His second was on target, but Harrisburg's Erik Rodriguez came up with an all-effort save. The Nittany Lions eventually made it a 2-0 game after Addis Tafese found the back of the net under a minute after subbing into the contests.
- Wilson's best chance came in the 62nd minute. After a loose ball landed at his feet outside the top right portion of the box, Josephy Ziercher (So., Berryville, Va. / Clarke County) lasered in a shot which required the acrobatics of Rodriguez for make a diving save. From there Harrisburg went back on the attack and eventually added an insurance goal in the 79th minute.
Inside The Numbers
- Shots favored Harrisburg by a 19-6 advantage overall. It resulted in Navarro making five saves in the first half before Neves rejected five more attempts in the second. One save was credited to the defense.
- Mulholland and Ziercher led the Phoenix offense with two shots each.
- Navarro has tallied at least five saves in his last three appearances.
Up Next
The Phoenix head to Reading to take on Penn State Berks this Saturday. Kickoff is slated for 1 p.m.
