The Penn State men's soccer team couldn't afford to hold anything back as they fought hard for a spot in this year's North Eastern Atlantic Conference playoffs. Only the top five out of ten teams would make it, but whether they would finish four or five, Harrisburg just wanted a shot to three-peat making the conference final. Saturday's 6-2 win against true conference rival Penn State Berks would be just what the doctor ordered to get the blue and white into the playoff scene.
The game started out strong for the lions who despite playing well over the past three games have only come out with a 1-1-1 conference record putting themselves into a must win scenario the last game of the season. Fortunately for Harrisburg, following senior day activities and the combined pressure of a must win scenario would end with the only result thought possible, a win to put the lions into the playoffs.
The usual combination of Justin Henderson (Cherry Hill, N.J. / Cherry Hill East) and Alex Belanger (Carlisle, Pa. / Big Spring) produced the first goal just 20 minutes into the first half setting the stage for a complete game for the lions. Senior Dillon Sobilo (Eureka, Ca. / Arcata) finished his first goal of the season shortly followed by Isaac Amedza (Philadelphia, Pa. / Samuel Fels) who hit a screamer from deep to find the back of the net and a 3-0 lead going into halftime.
Click Below for hafltime comments from GK Charlie Hyson.
The second half consisted of a little more back and forth play between the teams, but Harrisburg still held the advantage and added to their score total to win both halves of today's match. Nana Nyanteki(Howell, N.J. / Freehold Township), Babajide Obsula (Harrisburg, Pa. / Middletown Area) and Jimmy Bilger (Slatington, Pa. / Northern Lehigh) all scored for the Harrisburg in the second half. Penn State berks would try to match it with two of their own, but would fall just short to win either half as the Harrisburg lions would finish with a 6-2 victory and a trip to the playoffs. Matthew Hyson (Bel Air, Md. / Calvert Hall) would top the assist leader board today with two.
The Penn State Harrisburg lions will now have to take the long and dangerous road to mordor, actually Utica NY and the very nice Wildcat stadium, to face against SUNY IT who gave the blue and white their first conference loss of the season when they traveled there earlier this year. The winner will face off against first place tournament host Penn State Abington in the semifinal round next Saturday. If the lions play with the skill they showed today combined with the effort they have brought all season, they will be a tough team to beat.
Click below for post game comments by Head Coach Seamus Donnelly and Dillon Sobilo