Selinsgrove, Pa. – The Susquehanna Men's soccer team played their first regular season game on Sassafras Field since November 2nd, 2019, falling just short to the Misercordia Cougars 2-1 in overtime. The Cougars scored the overtime goal approaching the halfway point in the period, picking up their first win on the season.
Senior Joe Armstrong (Lambertville, N.J./South Hunterdon Regional) began the scoring with his goal just after the 50th minute, right at the outset of the second half. An exceptional throw in from the left side of the field from junior Peter Vassilakos (Holmdel, N.J./Holmdel) came right to Armstrong, who was able to knock in the lone Susquehanna goal. The shot was perfectly placed by the senior midfielder's head, as it rolled in the to the right side of net, just out of the reach of the Misericordia goalkeeper.
The Cougars were able to tie the game not long after, as Drew Weaver connected on a header, tying the game in the 58th minute after a River Hawk penalty.
The two teams were at a stalemate for the rest of the second half, sending the game into an extra period.
Susquehanna had a great look at a game winner in the third minute of overtime, as a pass came inside the box, but a River Hawk attempt at header came off just left of the net.
Misericordia netted the game winner after a pass off the head of Trent Wall fell right to Alexei King, who knocked in the game winner with his left foot, just out of the reach of the River Hawk keeper.
Other Notes:
- Senior goalie Kyle Speckhart (Short Hills, N.J./Millburn) played well in goal for the River Hawks, amassing three saves out of the five Cougar shots that were on target. Speckhart made his first start in goal since October 30th, 2019, a season in which he saw five starts working behind Matt Ellingworth.
- Owen Healey (Summit, N.J./Summit) and Olivier Mathieu (Quebec City, Quebec) each had two shot attempts, with one of Healey's being on goal. Armstrong had two shots as well, with one of those being the long goal.
- Misericordia outshot Susquehanna 13-9 on the evening, but only five of those shots were on target while the River Hawks had four shots on goal.
- The Cougars had the advantage on corner kicks as well, 8-5.
- Both keepers recorded three saves for their respective teams, each playing all 95 minutes.
Up Next:
- The River Hawks remain at home for a non-conference matchup on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. They will face the Hartwick Hawks, who won their season opener against Marywood University, 6-0.
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