Box Score
COLLEGEVILLE, Pa. – Senior
Teddy Smith (Ellicott City, Md./Centennial) scored at the start of the 88th minute to lead the Gettysburg College men's soccer team to a 2-1 victory over Ursinus College in the Centennial Conference opener for both teams.
Gettysburg (2-4, 1-0 CC), which improved to 16-1 all-time in the opening contest of its Centennial Conference schedule, was put on its heels early as Ursinus (0-5, 0-1 CC) fired off a trio of shots in just over 20 seconds to early in the match. Sophomore goalie
Mike Walmer (Hershey, Pa./Hershey) stopped the only attempt on goal at 4:15.
The Bullets turned the tide with freshman
Tyler Shaffer (Biglerville, Pa./Biglerville) knocking in his second goal of the fall in the 11th minute to spot the visitors the early lead.
Walmer made another save a few minutes later, while his counterpart in the Ursinus goal, Mike Alfieri stopped shots by sophomore
Andrew McLane (Newtown, Pa./St. Joe's Prep) and Smith. The stand allowed Ursinus to get into the offensive act as Andrew Machalick booted in the equalizer off a free kick at 27:16. Alfieri made two more saves before the end of the opening period to preserve the deadlock.
The 1-1 score held true for nearly the entire final stanza as each keeper stepped up for three saves. With five minutes remaining and the contest leaning towards overtime, Gettysburg took the offensive, forcing a pair of corner kicks and three shots. Junior
Kyle DeBlois' (Cranbury, N.J./Princeton) attempt at 86:31 was stopped by defender George Belaires, but just 30 seconds later, Smith found an opening over Alfieri's head for the game-winner.
McLane and DeBlois led Gettysburg with four and three shots, respectively, while Smith and sophomore
Ben Tabor (Kinnelon, N.J./Kinnelon) each posted two. Gettysburg led in the shot department 16-10 and corner kicks were tied at four apiece.
Walmer picked up the win after making five saves in the contest. Alfieri took the lost despite six saves.
Gettysburg returns home for its next affair against Eastern University on Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 7 p.m.
