(CHAMBERSBURG, Pa.) – With a gritty defensive effort the Wilson men's soccer team was able to post a scoreless draw with Albright on Senior Day Saturday. The Phoenix spent most of the afternoon on the defensive front with some Grade A chances offensively in the second half, but goalkeepers on both sides had phenomenal games to preserve the clean sheets for either side.
Before the game, Wilson's five seniors
Vincent Natale (Mt. Airy, Md. / Linganore), Michael Light (Mt. Airy, Md. / Urbana), Martin Souza (Manassas Park, Va. / Manassas Park), Brian Mulholland (Oracle, Ariz. / Canyon del Oro), and
Liam Yeatman (Roseland, Va. / Phoenixville) were recognized.
The Basics
Score: Wilson 0, Albright 0
Venue: Kris's Meadow
Records: Wilson 1-3-2-, Albright 2-1-1
How It Happened
- The Phoenix back line was tested early as the Lions had four early shots. The first three were off target, but the fourth required the efforts of Natale. Wilson soon countered with Jordan DeVincent (Jr., Eldersburg, Md. / Liberty) taking a shot to the lower left 90 that was saved in the 14th minute. Five minutes later Tyler Cottone (Jr., Milford, Pa. / Delaware Valley) had one to the bottom right that was also stopped.
- Natale came up big on a couple of occasions midway through the first. A free kick left Albright with a long opportunity that was placed to the top left where Natale was able to make the save by punching the ball out of danger. Two minutes later a stroke from outside the boxed required a diving effort to the right side to make the save. His last save came in the 44th minute. Logan Neves (Jr., Fredericksburg, Va. / Colonial Forge) spelled Natale for the second half and was immediately tested with shots from the Lions in the 48th and 49th minutes that needed saves.
- Wilson's offensive chances in the second were limited, but the Blue and White arguably had two of the best looks in the game down the stretch. Jeron Fletcher (FY, McConnellsburg, Pa. / McConnellsburg) had the first of them with a hard shot in the 77th. It was lasered to the lower left corner with Albright's Mike Lawry making the stop. The last chance for the Blue and White saw a pass centered into the box where Andrew Bailey (Jr., Mt. Airy, Md. / Linganore) had a header that just went wide of the left post.
Inside The Numbers
- Albright outshot the Phoenix 24-5 overall and 9-3 in shots on goal. Natale finished the day four saves while Neves made five.
- Corner kicks also favored the Lions by a 6-3 count.
- After going nearly two years without a scoreless draw, the Phoenix have now had their second clean sheet in the past three games. It's their third shutout in the past three games.
Up Next
Wilson will host Penn State Altoona on Wednesday. Kickoff with the Nittany Lions is set for 4 p.m.
