Box Score Alfred, NY – The D'Youville men's soccer team grabbed their first win of the 2017 on Friday evening in dramatic fashion, defeating the Alfred State Pioneers by the final score of 2-1.
D'Youville wasted little time getting on the board in the first half of the game. With just their second shot of the game, Hunter Sherman (Lockport, NY/Lockport) scored his first goal of the season after beating the Alfred State keeper on the left side for a 1-0 lead. Also picking up his first point of the season was Khaled Numan-Ali (Cheektowaga, NY/Cheektowaga) with the assist.
Throughout the remainder of the half, each team would get their chance to shift the momentum in their favor, but neither team was able to change the score. After 45 minutes, the Spartans went into the half leading 1-0 over the Pioneers.
The second half opened up in a defensive battle, and it continued past the 70th minute as Spartan goalkeeper Peter Petruzzo (Clarence, NY/Clarence) made a pair of saves to keep D'Youvlle in front 1-0. On the verge of the game entering the final 10 minutes, Alfred State finally broke the Spartan's defense as they tied the game on a low shot to tie the game at 1-1 with 10 minutes to go in regulation.
In the final six minutes of action, D'Youville earned a pair of corner kicks. The first one from Alf Egge (Stavanger, Norway/Stavanger International) was to no avail, but the second with less than three minutes to go would help push the Spartans ahead.
Egge curled a ball off the corner into the box where team captain and center back Josh Hammer (Amherst, NY/Sweet Home) headed home his team leading third goal of the season into the back of the net, giving D'Youville a 2-1 lead with 2:49 left on the clock. Hammer's late goal proved to be enough for the Spartans as the team closed out their first win of the season by the final of 2-1.
Three players each recorded their first point of the season in the game, with Sherman picking up two points with his goal while Numan-Ali and Egge each grabbed a point for their assists. Sherman led the team with three shots, two of which were on goal. The team totaled seven shots in the game.
Petruzzo had a great game in goal for his first win of the season, making five saves of 90 minutes. The back line of Hammer, Matt Davis (Spencerport, NY/Spencerport), Mike Lekanka (Newfane, NY/Newfane), Aweso Noor (Buffalo, NY/Canisius), and Allan Wade (Pendleton, NY/Starpoint) each contributing in a big way to give the Spartans their first win.
The men will not have to wait long for an attempt to begin a winning streak as the Spartans will return home on Sunday, September 17 to host Utica. Game time is 12:00pm.
