MIDDLETOWN, Pa. – Penn State Harrisburg played its first league match as a member of the Capital Athletic Conference (CAC) on Saturday afternoon, Sep. 28. The Lions outplayed Southern Virginia in nearly every aspect of the game in front of a hometown crowd but despite outshooting the Knights (25-10) and earning the advantage in corner kicks (8-2), the Blue & White fought to a 1-1 double overtime draw.
The visitors did not have many chances on this day but they took advantage of one early in the match when a corner kick led to a blocked shot in front of Penn State Harrisburg's net. The Knight's Sam Bunnell raced to the deflected ball and put his shot past the Lions' hardworking goalkeeper Brandon Hoover (Lancaster, Pa. / Pequea Valley) and into the back of the net, giving Southern Virginia a 1-0 lead in the 11th minute.
It didn't take long for the Blue & White to answer back, however. In the 22nd minute, Penn State Harrisburg sophomore Jimmy Bilger (Slatington, Pa. / Northern Lehigh) found freshman Jonathan Vanaskie (Shamokin, Pa. / Shamokin Area) on a beautiful through ball from midfield. Vanaskie beat a Knight defender to the ball and sprinted towards the Southern Virginia goal before booting his shot past goalie Scott Zaring, tying the game at 1-1 in the process.
The Lions' defense clamped down in the second half and made up for the one early goal allowed. Southern Virginia's best scoring opportunities came on several Zaring free kicks following Penn State Harrisburg fouls. The Knight keeper put several shots from midfield deep in the Blue & White box. Fortunately, Hoover, junior captain Michael Jones (Harrisburg, Pa. / Central Dauphin) and the rest of the last line foiled every Southern Virginia scoring chance.
Penn State Harrisburg's offensive charge was also stymied late in regulation. Jones, Bilger and sophomore Claudius Tayler (Landover, Md. / Hammond) all got shots off in the last five minutes of the second half. None found their mark.
Despite outshooting the Knights 3-0 in the first overtime period, the score remained tied heading into the extra session. In the second OT, the Lions again outshot Southern Virginia (2-1) but the visitors had the best scoring look of the timeframe. Hoover turned away Dennis Bronson's attempt when he made his fifth save of the day but the Knights' defense did just enough in extra time and the Blue & White would have to settle for a draw.
Vanaskie led the team with two shots-on-goal while senior captain Tommy Miller (Palmyra, Pa. / Palmyra Area) and freshman Austin Katz (Lancaster, Pa. / Manheim Township) played well throughout the afternoon.
With the tie, Penn State Harrisburg now sits at 3-4-1 on the year. The Lions will next be in action this Wednesday, Oct. 2 when they travel to Frostburg State for another CAC matchup.