CRESSON, Pa. – The Blue and White men's soccer team could not find the back of the net Saturday against the Mt. Aloysius Mounties. During the entire first half it felt as if it was just a matter of time until the Lions took the lead.
They were moving the ball well, helping to create more than a few quality scoring opportunities. Unfortunately, a defensive handling error resulted in a Mountie penalty kick and a great chance to go ahead early in the game. Harrisburg's goalkeeper Devon Gerhart (Newmanstown, Pa. / Eastern Lebanon County) had to use every inch of his 6'4" frame to make a fingertip save keeping the score even.
The game remained scoreless until early in the second half when Mt. Aloysius forward Patrick Chea got a small window of space in the center of the field 25 yards out and hit a screamer into the top left corner for the 1-0 lead.
Harrisburg kept their poise and the ball on their attacking end for most of the second half. In the 60th minute a questionable handball call stopped Tommy Miller (Palmyra, Pa/Palmyra) from getting a chance just six yards out and all alone. In the 75th and 77th two headers were just off equalizing things. Again in the 78th minute Isaac Amedza (Philadelphia, Pa. / Samuel Fels) provided an impressive through ball to Jimmy Bilger (Slatington, Pa. / Northern Lehigh) for a 1v1 with the goalie that again was missed just wide.
As the final seconds wound down, the Lions pushed hard but could not get the ball past the Mt. Aloysius goalkeeper who was forced to make a diving save from a header as time expired.
Second year Head Coach Seamus Donnelly was available for comment post game and had this to say of his team's performance. "First off, all credit to Mt Aloysius, the played to their game plan and scored a great goal. They made it very hard for us to play our game and deserved their victory. For us, we must dust ourselves off and get back to the training ground and figure something's out. We have a lot of talent in the squad, but need a little more than that to win these types of games."
Harrisburg will get a chance to redeem themselves next Wednesday when they face off against Albright on the road.